Surprises in a Seaside City: Rimini from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance

(66 reviews)

Rimini audio tour: Surprises in a Seaside City: Rimini from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance

This is a 0.9mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Rimini

Italy

$9.99

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About the Tour

Rimini surprises visitors with its impressive historical heritage that lies beyond its famous beaches and nightlife. On this immersive walking tour, you'll discover the city's remarkable journey from Roman colony to Renaissance powerhouse, exploring architectural treasures that span over 2,000 years of history while uncovering unexpected stories that have shaped this Adriatic coastal gem.

The tour starts at Castel Sismondo, the imposing fortress commissioned by Rimini's powerful 15th-century ruler Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. You'll stroll through elegant piazzas lined with medieval palaces, pass the restored Galli Theater, and stand in Piazza Tre Martiri—the ancient Roman forum where Julius Caesar addressed his troops after crossing the Rubicon with his famous declaration the die is cast. Along the way, you'll discover how Rimini evolved from an important Roman port to a Renaissance cultural center.

You'll visit the remarkable Tempio Malatestiano, a cathedral transformed by Sigismondo Malatesta that so offended Pope Pius II with its pagan styling that it was never completed. You'll explore the fascinating Domus del Chirurgo, where a preserved Roman doctor's house from the 2nd century CE revealed the most complete set of ancient medical implements ever discovered. The tour ends at the iconic Bridge of Tiberius, an engineering marvel begun by Emperor Augustus in 14 CE that has withstood wars, floods, and even German attempts to destroy it during World War II.

During this 75-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

Stand in the exact spot where Julius Caesar made his fateful the die is cast speech in 49 BCE
Marvel at the perfectly preserved 2,000-year-old Bridge of Tiberius that has defied centuries of attempts to destroy it
Explore the Domus del Chirurgo, housing the most complete collection of Roman medical instruments ever discovered
Visit the controversial Tempio Malatestiano, a Renaissance masterpiece designed by Leon Battista Alberti that outraged the Pope
See the birthplace of legendary film director Federico Fellini and visit the Cinema Fulgor where he first fell in love with movies
Discover the ruins of Palazzo Lettimi, a poignant reminder of WWII's impact on the city's historical treasures
Learn how this crucial Roman port connected the Empire through the Via Flaminia, Via Emilia, and Via Pompilia

Whether you're a history enthusiast, architecture lover, or simply curious about the lesser-known side of this beach destination, this walking tour reveals Rimini's surprising depth beyond its Adriatic shoreline.

Tour Producer

A History of Italy Podcast

28 tours

A History of Italy is a weekly podcast in 15/20 minute episodes on the history of the Italian peninsula from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the present day.

There are plenty of dates, battles and rulers of course, but also a fair share of rabbits winning sieges, swords stuck in uncomfortable places, murder mysteries, naughty popes, monks getting undressed and all other sorts of mischief in the history of the colourful Italians.

It is the author's passion for that history and the fact he lives in Italy that has lead him to explore a country that has more UNESCO world heritage sites than any other in the world and has recently added the national cuisine as well.

The author, Mike Corradi is an Anglo-Italian English teacher living in northern Italy with a passion for travel and history. He has been workinh with VoiceMap since 2019 on more than 20 tours from the most iconic sites of Venice and Rome to the lesser known corners of the two as well as many other hidden gems of the Italian provinces for those who want a more unique and off the beaten track Italian experience.

Preview Location

Location 6

Piazza Tre Martiri and antique forum

You're now entering Piazza Tre Martiri. Stop here for a moment while I tell you about this square. Once again, stay out of the way of pedestrian and especially bicycle traffic. If you want, as you enter the square on the left you will find a statue of our buddy Julius Caesar, ... You're now entering Piazza Tre Martiri. Stop here for a moment while I tell you about this square. Once again, stay out of the way of pedestrian and especially bicycle traffic. If you want, as you enter the square on the left you will find a statue of our buddy Julius Caesar, you can go and stand near him if you wish.

Speaking of the man, I imagine you are familiar with the phrase "the die is cast", meaning "what's done is done and there's no going back." Well, this is where the speech containing that utterance was made. This is the position of the ancient Roman forum and it was here that General Julius Caesar spoke to his troops after crossing the Rubicon in 49 BCE. The Rubicon, which was the border between Rome and Gaul at the time, was the point in which generals were supposed to disband their armies, not doing so, would be perceived as an act of war. Rimini is on what was the Roman side of the Rubicon.

Look up at the statue.

Can you imagine being here on that historical moment? You are standing with your fellow legionaries, listening to your general, whom you love and respect more than Rome herself and as you listen, you hear the words that, perhaps unknown to you, will resound through history: "alea iacta est" - The die is cast.

You may be wondering at this point why the square is not named after Caesar, well, until 1946 it was. The current name, "Tre Martiri", was given to the square after three antifascist partisans were hung here on 18th August 1944, just a month before the city was liberated. They were Mario Capelli, Luigi Nicolò and Adelio Pagliarani. After the square was renovated in 2000, the exact point where the freedom fighters were executed was market by two parallel lines. You will find this point on the left side of the square, just before the small domed building you see.

The domed building I mentioned on the left side of the square just after the centre is the little chapel dedicated to Sant Antonio da Padova. This is supposedly the spot where the miracle of the mule occurred.

It seems that Saint Antonio was preaching here when a man walked by leading his mule with no intention of listening to the sermon. The mule however, had either ideas and lay down and would not move until the saint had finished talking. So that is the miracle of the mule. Either that or it was just a case of a tired mule.

The chapel was built in 1518. The larger church behind it is also decocted to Sant'Antonio.

You can start heading towards the other end of the square, just remember that when you have finished wandering round, we're going to head out of the square along via IV Novembre, which is the one you will see to your left as you stand in the centre of the square with your back to the statue of Caesar.

From this square you can get a better view of the arch of Augustus. It's not on our tour, but you may want to head out there later. It's not the most impressive thing at first glance, but when you stop to think that it has been there for 2000 years and that who may be standing where Augustus once stood it takes on a new light.

When you are ready, head down via IV Novembre, from the centre of the square, with your back to the statue of Caesar, head left. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Castel Sismondo
Teatro Amintore Galli
Piazza Cavour
Vecchia Pescheria
Piazza Tre Martiri
Statua di Giulio Cesare
Arco di Augusto
Malatestiano Temple
City Museum
Cinema Fulgor

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Piazza Malatesta, 47900 Rimini RN, Italy
Total distance

2km
Final location
Viale Tiberio, 17-25, 47921 Rimini RN, Italy
Distance back to start location

477.75m

Directions to Starting Point

The starting point is Castel Sismondo.

There are quite a few places to park near here. If you are really lucky, you may find free parking in Via Circonvallazione Ovest, otherwise you can head to "Italo Fiori" parking or "La Brezza" as well as the area with parking meters going from the castle towards the bridge of Tiberius.

The castle is around 15 minutes walk from Rimini train station, by walking through the centre.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

La mi Mama resturant, Garden of Paolo and Francesca, 25th Aprile park

Best time of day

In the summer it is a good idea to avoid late mornings and early afternoons, but you also don't want to get started too early and find locations closed.

You could perhaps do your sightseeing in the morning and then relax in the afternoon and go back to single events such as at the Domus or the castle in the evening.

Opening times for Domus del Chirurgo and City Museum

Summer hours from 1st June to 15th September,
from Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 19:00 including holidays

Winter hours from 16th September to 31st May
From Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 to 13:00 and from 16:00 - 19:00
Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 19:00

You can visit the church except during religious services which are held on Sundays at 11:00 am and 17:30 pm and on Saturdays at 17:30 pm.

Otherwise you can visit weekdays from

8.30 - 12.00; 15.30 - 18.30.

Saturdays: 8.30 - 12.30; 15.30 - 16.30 and 18.30 - 19.00

Sundays and holidays: 9.00 - 10.30 and 12 -13.00; 15.30 - 16.30 and 18.30 - 19.00

Precautions

Summer is the best time to visit a seaside town, but make sure you have a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water with you.

Try to avoid coming in August when prices are higher and everywhere will be crowded.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”