Rimini: Emilia-Romagna's Coastal Town of Adriatic Charm
When foreigners think of Italian beaches, Rimini is certainly not the first—or even the tenth—to come to mind. However, it is one of the few sandy beaches in Italy. Located on the Adriatic Sea, within the province of Emilia-Romagna, it’s a hidden gem worth a stop if you’re in Northern Italy.
We took Vannah on the inner-city train from Bologna this past Saturday. For €10 each, it took us an hour and 15 minutes to get to Rimini. FYI: Dogs are free to travel on inner-city trains, otherwise you must buy a ticket for the high speed trains, I believe it’s half the cost of a regular ticket. Just make sure you have their “passports” or travel paperwork and a muzzle. The do not need to wear it, just have it on hand incase the train manager (person checking tickets) asks.
The town is charming, and the beach is lined with beach clubs featuring matching umbrellas reminiscent of those from yesteryear. If you want to eat at one of the full-service restaurants at the beach club, you’ll need a reservation. This can usually be made in the morning when you reserve your chair and umbrella. We did not do this because, although dogs are allowed to be under the umbrellas, they are not allowed to wander the beach or go in the sea before 6 pm. So, sitting under an umbrella would have been too hot for her. Instead, we walked the boardwalk, stopping multiple times for Aperol Spritz, vino bianco frizzante, and snacks. There are also tons of restaurants with large patios (like anywhere in Italy) serving up plates of pasta, octopus salads, brushetta, and pizzas.
As the sun begins to set, the chairs and umbrellas are put away, and the beach transforms into a lively party with music, satellite bars, and dancing. At this time, Mike took Vannah into the water where she hopped the waves. This was her first time in the sea and she was a natural. Did you know that Weimaraners have webbed toes??
Rimini is also known for its Roman ruins, such as the Arch of Augustus and the Tiberius Bridge (which is 2,000 years old), one of the few bridges not destroyed by the retreating German forces during World War II. It’s definitely worth a visit and could even be an easy day trip from Venice, as long as you don’t have a quirky little Weimaraner with separation anxiety. That way, you can spend the day at the beach club and floating in the sea. Still, it was the best day and not a place we would have otherwise visited if we weren't currently living here.
Here’s a 60 sec reel of the day, featuring the webbed-toed velcro dog also known as Vannah, Queen of Italy.
