Riccione
Encyclopedia
Riccione is a comune
in the Province of Rimini
, Emilia-Romagna
, northern Italy
. As of 2007 Riccione had an estimated population of 34,868.
, 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.
, and, together with Rimini
, is one of the best known seaside resorts in Northern Italy.
Tourism in Riccione is massive, including mostly young people attracted by the number and variety of disco
s, on the Riviera and in the city centre. Riccione also attracts families with children, thanks to its theme parks.
The scores of hotel
s 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.
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.
by the Rimini–Riccione trolleybus line
.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the Province of Rimini
Province of Rimini
The Province of Rimini is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Rimini. It borders the state of San Marino.-History:...
, Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. 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 RepublicRoman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, 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
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
. 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
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
had a villa built here in 1934.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, tourist flow was further increased by its choosing as vacation resort by numerous famous people, such as Pelè
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Mina
Mina (singer)
Anna Maria Quaini, Grand Officer , known as Mina, is an Italian pop singer. She was a staple of Italian television variety shows and a dominant figure in Italian pop music from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s known for her three-octave vocal range, the agility of her soprano voice, and her image as an...
, Ugo Tognazzi
Ugo Tognazzi
Ugo Tognazzi was an Italian film, TV, and theatre actor, director, and screenwriter.-Early life:Tognazzi was born in Cremona, in northern Italy but spent his youth in various localities as his father was a traveller clerk for an insurance company.After his return in the native city in 1936, he...
, Vittorio De Sica
Vittorio de Sica
Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement....
, 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 RomagnaRomagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
, and, together with Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, is one of the best known seaside resorts in Northern Italy.
Tourism in Riccione is massive, including mostly young people attracted by the number and variety of disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
s, on the Riviera and in the city centre. Riccione also attracts families with children, thanks to its theme parks.
The scores of hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s 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
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
lane, that reaches up to the town's end going along the sea.
Cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
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 RiminiRimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
by the Rimini–Riccione trolleybus line
Trolleybuses in Rimini
The Rimini trolleybus system , also known as the Rimini–Riccione trolleybus line , forms part of the public transport network of the city and comune of Rimini, in the region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy...
.
People from Riccione
- George Bruno,president and famous bisnesmen.
- Martina Colombari, Miss ItaliaMiss ItaliaMiss Italia is the name of a beauty pageant awarding prizes every year to young, female contestants from Italy. Since the first edition of the contest in 1939 many of the contestants have gone on to notable careers in television and film.-History:...
1991, actress. - Mattia PasiniMattia PasiniMattia Pasini is an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He participated in his first race at the age of 9. After several successful years in the Italian and European championships, he made his 125cc world championship debut in 2004 as the team-mate of Roberto Locatelli...
, motorcycle road racer. - Isabella SantacroceIsabella SantacroceIsabella Santacroce is an Italian novelist.- Biography :Isabella Santacroce was born and lives in Riccione. Her literary startup began in the 1990s with her debut novel Fluo, the first book of the trilogy "Trilogia dello spavento"...
, novelist. - Andrea Speziali, designer, artist and decoration consultant.
External links
- Visit Riccione, Riccione events.
- Riccione, Riccione cultura.
- Riccione photo, Riccione photo.
- Riccione Travel Guide
- La Città Invisibile , collection of signs, stories and memories on Riccione during the war age.
- Riccione, Riccione tourism web site.