Riccione
Riccione | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Riccione | |
 Piazzale Roma in Riccione. | |
Location of Riccione  | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Emilia-Romagna |
| Province | Rimini (RN) |
| Frazioni | Abissinia, Alba, Centro, Colombarina, Fontanelle, Il Villaggio, San Lorenzo in Strada, Spontricciolo |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Massimo Pironi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.11 km2 (6.61 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Population (31 May 2007)[2] | |
| • Total | 34,868 |
| • Density | 2,000/km2 (5,300/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Riccionesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| 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 in the city of riccione.
Tourism in Riccione is massive, including mostly young people attracted by the number and variety of discos, on the Riviera and in the city centre. Riccione also attracts families with children, thanks to its theme parks.
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, discos, and hotels, but daily are run by people walking or biking. 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.
Sport
From September 4 to 15, 2007, Riccione hosted the World Masters Athletics Championships.
From June 29 2007 to July 6, Riccione (with Rimini) hosted the CSIT Championships.
In 2012 Riccione will host for the second time after 2004, the FINA World Masters Championships in swimming, diving, water polo, open water and synchronized swimming.
Transportation
Riccione is linked with the nearby city of Rimini by the Rimini–Riccione trolleybus line.
People from Riccione
- George Bruno,president and famous businessman.
- Carlotta Montanari, actress.[3]
- Martina Colombari, Miss Italia 1991, actress.
- Mattia Pasini, motorcycle road racer.
- Isabella Santacroce, novelist.
- Andrea Speziali, designer, artist and decoration consultant.
References
- Fabio Lombardi (2002). Storia di Riccione. Cesena: Il ponte vecchio. ISBN 88-8312-188-0.
- Andrea Speziali (2005). Villa Antolini a Riccione. New York: Lulu. ISBN 978-1-4457-8644-5.
- Andrea Speziali (2008). Le ville di Riccione. New York: Lulu. ISBN 978-1-4461-5980-4.
- Andrea Speziali (2008). Una Stagione del Liberty a Riccione. Santarcangelo: Maggioli editore. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/978-88-387-5649-X |978-88-387-5649-X [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]].
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External links
- Visit Riccione, Riccione events.
- Riccione, Riccione cultura.
- Riccione photo, Riccione photo.
- Riccione Travel Guide
- La Città Invisibile Template:It, collection of signs, stories and memories on Riccione during the war age.
- Riccione, Riccione tourism web site.