| If Sigismondo Malatesta a famous 15th Century Lord | | | | for smuggling and brigandry as they were away from |
| of Rimini came back, what would he make of Rimini | | | | the city of Rimini's main defences. Italian cities just like |
| today? Apart from some of the obvious differences | | | | Rimini were often at war with each other and were in |
| between the renaissance city of Malatesta and the | | | | continuous conflict with their neighbours. Malatesta, |
| modern city today, (Malatesta's castle is still standing) | | | | throughout his life was in a continuous power struggle |
| the presence of cars, modern buildings and electrical | | | | with Federico da Montefeltro, Lord of Urbino and also |
| lighting would probably amaze him. The most amazing | | | | the Pope.We also know that Pope Pius II |
| thing though apart from the above would probably be | | | | excommunicated Sigismondo in 1460 declaring him a |
| Rimini's move to the coast. | | | | heretic. |
| The city of Rimini in Malatesta's era had its defences | | | | So when did Rimini start to become a city that is, for |
| inland which ran around what is today known as the | | | | Italians and the many tourists from the world over, |
| centro storico. When Sigismondo Malatesta came to | | | | synonymous with sun, sea, and sand? In his fascinating |
| power he decided a change was in order and | | | | study of the history of sea bathing in Rimini - Una |
| promptly embarked on a vast building programme | | | | costa lunga due secoli (Panozzo Editore), Professor |
| which included the Tempio | | | | Feruccio Farina, of the University of Urbino, sheds light |
| Malatesta - one of the finest examples of | | | | on one of the first tourist to take a dip in the beautiful |
| neo-classical architecture in Europe - and his enormous | | | | sea in Rimini. Her name was Elisabeth Kenny, and she |
| and very modern fortress, the Rocca Malatesta. The | | | | was the young Irish wife of a Roman noble. Professor |
| city of Malatesta was built on top of the existing city - | | | | Feruccio Farina says that she is recorded as having |
| in other words on the site of the Roman city of | | | | visited the city of Rimini in the summer month of |
| Ariminum which was founded in the year 286 B.C. | | | | August of 1790 (over 300 years after the death of |
| Malatesta used the existing Roman monuments at the | | | | Sigismondo Malatesta), and stayed for over two |
| time, including the famous Ponte di Tiberio and Arco | | | | weeks to benefit from the wonderful sea air and |
| d'Augustoand incorporated them into his city. These | | | | waves. |
| famous monuments can still be seen today on your | | | | Rimini is one of those classic holiday destinations for |
| trip to Rimini. | | | | Italians and tourist alike. Rimini has been blessed with |
| Taking a walk around Rimini today, Malatesta would | | | | sun, sand and sea as well as culture. The classic |
| find the beautiful sandy beaches and their magnetism | | | | beach holiday and culture holiday coexist here in Rimini |
| quite puzzling during the summer months. Back in | | | | much to the delight of all that arrive here. Rimini is |
| Malatesta's day the practice of lying in the sun on the | | | | easily reached by numerous direct flights from many |
| beach and going for a dip would have been strange if | | | | cities around Europe. |
| not dangerous as the beaches back then were places | | | | |