Riccione

Riccione
Comune
Comune di Riccione

Piazzale Roma in Riccione.

Coat of arms
Riccione

Location of Riccione in Italy

Coordinates: 44°0′N 12°39′E / 44.000°N 12.650°E / 44.000; 12.650Coordinates: 44°0′N 12°39′E / 44.000°N 12.650°E / 44.000; 12.650
Country Italy
Region Emilia-Romagna
Province / Metropolitan city Rimini (RN)
Frazioni Abissinia, Alba, Centro, Colombarina, Fontanelle, Il Villaggio, San Lorenzo in Strada, Spontricciolo
Government
  Mayor Renata Tosi
Area
  Total 17.11 km2 (6.61 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (31 May 2007)[1]
  Total 34,868
  Density 2,000/km2 (5,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Riccionesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 47838
Dialing code 0541
Patron saint San Martino
Saint day 11 November
Website Official website

Riccione is a comune in the Province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. As of 2007 Riccione had an estimated population of 34,868.

History

The oldest archaeological findings in Riccione's area date to the 2nd century BC, although it was most likely settled in advance. At the time of the Roman Republic, it was known as Vicus Popilius and a bridge over the Rio Melo river. After an obscurity period, in 1260 it was acquired by the Agolanti family, connected to the lords of Rimini, the Malatesta. In the 17th century some watchtowers were built on the seaside against assaults by pirates.

Origins of the tourist fame of Riccione date to the late 19th century, mostly spurred by the construction of residences by rich Bolognese people. In the 1930s there were some 30,000 tourists a year, with some 80 hotels existing. Benito Mussolini had a villa built here in 1934.

After World War II, tourist flow was further increased by its choosing as vacation resort by numerous famous people, such as Pelè, Mina, Ugo Tognazzi, Vittorio De Sica, Romano Mussolini (painter and jazz pianist), Maria Scicolone (sister of Sofia Loren), Pacifico Marchesini (bon-vivant/Italian diplomat) and others.

Tourism

Since the 1930s Riccione gained the status of a main destination of summer tourism on the Adriatic riviera of Romagna, and, together with Rimini, is one of the best known seaside resorts in Northern Italy. Every two years, a festival called the Festival Del Sol takes place.

Tourism in Riccione is massive, including mostly young people attracted by its great nightlife. The Adriatic coast in Emilia Romagna is called Riviera Romagnola and it has plenty of night clubs. Riccione also attracts families with children, thanks to its theme parks, hotels organize baby sitting for kids all day in the hotel and on the beach.

The scores of hotels on the Riviera, one next to the other, determine the large amount of tourists flowing there in summer. The main streets of Riccione, viale Dante and viale Ceccarini have numerous night spots, bars, and hotels, in the night and they are the best place for shopping and eating during the day. The seafront is a long boulevard, shaped by a road and an equally developed bicycle lane, that reaches up to the town's end going along the sea.

Cycling is popular in the Emilia Romagna area and a number of Riccione's hotels have teamed up to capitalise on this. These hotels provide specific facilities for cycling tourists, including bike hire, cycle storage and tour guides.

One of the main event in Riccione beaches is the pink night, where the city becomes pink. There are parties on the beaches all the night for an entire week end and it is possible to see the Adriatic coast becoming pink for all the magnificent fireworks.

Sport

From 4 to 15 September 2007, Riccione hosted the World Masters Athletics Championships.

From 29 June to 6 July 2007, Riccione (with Rimini) hosted the CSIT championships.

Riccione has a new swimming pool with 50-metre (160 ft) lanes indoors and outdoors. Every year, it hosts international competitions. The city has hosted the FINA World Masters Championships in swimming, diving, water polo, open water and synchronized swimming.

Minor sport events are the beach line festival, tennis beach competitions. On the beach there are surf clubs and kitesurf clubs as well.

Transportation

Riccione is linked with the nearby city of Rimini by the Rimini–Riccione trolleybus line and it is linked to the main cities by train, to Bologna (northbound) and to Ancona (southbound). The nearest airport is the Federico Fellini Airport in Miramare di Rimini, which is only a couple of kilometres (1.2 miles) from Riccione. Federico Fellini Airport links Riccione to the main European cities.

People from Riccione

References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  2. "IMDB".
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