Introduction
While Bologna has been always known as "la dotta" (the wiser), Rimini has yet to be assigned a nickname based on its history and culture. According to sociologist Andrea Bonomi, Rimini, the so-called capital of the Romagna Riviera and stronghold of tourism of the EU, is rather a "leisure district", or at least it is believed to be.
Rimini is hardly considered a "city of art and culture," perhaps because it was almost entirely rebuilt after Second World War. 80% of the buildings were destroyed in air raids and bombings. And yet, miraculously, some of the most important masterpieces remained or have been restored: Augustus Arch, Tiberius Bridge, Domus of the Surgeon, Malatesta Temple, and Gambalunga Palace with its library.
The Gambalunga library, founded in the early Seventeenth Century, with specific purpose of a public place where to share knowledge, it offers today cultural events to students of the Alma Mater and to inhabitants of the "University Citadel" raising in the city centre. Not only it is possible to look up manuscript, Sixteenth-century incunabula, and other early texts from all spheres of human knowledge, which counts more than 3,000 pieces, but also magazines and newspapers (with more than 300 subscriptions), collections of photographs, printings and drawings and, of course, all the books you would expect to find in a public library (most of which may be borrowed). The Cineteca or film archive on the ground floor, has a vast collection of books and movies in video to be watched individually on pc. The library organizes public events such as conferences and lectures, art film festival, sometimes in collaboration with the University, that take place in the screenings room, across the main hall.
Some important events organized by the library on a regular basis, for many years now, take place also in different locations, like Meditazioni riminesi (Rimini Meditation), a set of anthropological and philosophical lectures on specific topic each year (between February and April), or the Antico/Presente (Ancient/ Present) in June. A real "festival of the ancient world", full of events, initiatives and exhibitions that take place throughout the year, in different historical settings of the town such as the Roman amphitheatre.
Another important public Institution is the Museo della Città (Museum of the City), with a picture gallery that holds important masterpieces from the Fourteenth Century Art School named "Trecento Riminese" along with important paintings of Ghirlandaio, Bellini, Cagnacci, Guercino, etc. The Archaeology section, limited 2nd and 3rd Century by now, but soon it will gain another twenty rooms. At the moment it is already possible to admire the evocative garden and lapidarium and an interesting collection of medical and surgical equipment, that belonged to a surgeon from the Third century A.D. Within little distance it is worth a visit the archaeological site, covered with a large building in glass and brick, where you can admire magnificent mosaics and the rest of the house that belonged to the ancient surgeon of Rimini.
The Museum, like the library itself, hosts scientific and popular events, such as guided tours of its collection and of the city itself (in the summer time), and also exhibitions, conferences, and workshops. Within the Museum there is also a library with specific texts of history of art.
A special mention deserves the Museum of Extra European Cultures, "Museo degli sguardi" projected by Marc Augé, reopened in its new address "Villa Alvarado" on Covignano’s hill: a breathtaking location with a view on the city and the shore line. The Museum's collection include ethnographical artefacts from Africa, Asia, and Oceania as well as a significant collection of artistic objects from Mayan, Aztec, and Inca cultures.
The Municipality of Rimini offers a wide range of performing art events. The intense theatrical season at Novelli Theatre hosts the most important drama production companies, while the Teatro degli Atti presents a wide program featuring experimental works. The main musical event of the year is the Sagra Malatestiana, with concerts dedicated to symphonic music in September, anticipated in July by Percuotere la mente, great performances played by international artists with an overview of emerging "new music". The last season events are the Sunday Concerts (Concerti della Domenica), held at the Teatro degli Atti throughout the winter, including good jazz music, modern dance, cabaret-style performances, and much more.
In addition to above mentioned schedule planned at the Cineteca, a summer program of important new and historical films takes place in the courtyard of a former Augustinian convent. In particular the Fellini Foundation promotes international events such as exhibitions, conventions and festivals, in wintertime, all in the name of the great cultural heritage of the famous director born in Rimini.
Public Institutions stand not alone in the organisation of cultural events in Rimini. The Cassa di Risparmio Fundation organizes important exhibitions at Castel Sismondo, other private Institutions and Associations organize Meeting for People’s Friendship (Meeting dell’Amicizia fra i Popoli), "Pio Manzù" Days (Giornate del Pio Manzù), and the Cartoon Club Festival. It is not possible to leave out the projects supported by publishers, bookshops, art galleries, associations; you can keep yourself updated asking to URP (Ufficio relazioni con il Pubblico) of the Municipality situated in Corso d’Augusto.
In order to find some rest you can enjoy public parks and ride a bicycle along the Marecchia river paths, that runs in the hinterland.
In Rimini it is easy to fulfil a schedule reach of events according to anyone’s interests, inclinations, and area of study, beginning with cultural opportunities offered by the University;
Young residents of Rimini are eligible for the city's special CultCard, which entitles holders to discounts on cultural event among other.
Enjoy your time with in Rimini!!
Marcello Di Bella
Museums
Museo della Città
Via L. Tonini, 1 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 21482
e-mail: musei@comune.rimini.it
The collections of the Museo della Città, located in the eighteenth century Collegio dei Gesuiti (Jesuit College) feature local historical and artistic artifacts. The museum is currently closed for renovation. When it re-opens, the collections will be organized chronologically from the early history of the territory to today. At the moment it is possible to visit:
ground floor - the sculptures by Arnaldo Pomodoro, the space dedicated to René Gruau, the Roman stonework in the courtyard, and the new Museo Archeologico, featuring artifacts from the Imperial Roman period
first and second floors - the Picture Gallery with works from the period of the Comuni through the twentieth century including masterpieces of the Riminese Trecento, paintings by Giovanni Bellini and del Ghirlandaio, and seventeenth century paintings by Cagnacci, Centino, Guercino, and Cantarini.
Winter Hours:
from Tue to Sat 8:30-12:30/17-19
Sun and holiday 10-12:30/15-19
closed Monday (unless it's a holiday)
SUNDAY FREE ENTRY
Summer Hours (from the midle of June to the midle of september):
from Tue to Sat 10-12:30/16:30-19:30
Sun and holiday 16:30-19:30
Tue and Fri of July and August 21-23
closed Monday (unless it's a holiday)
Accessible to those with disabilities.
Call 0541 21482 to reserve guided tours, including those for the seeing and hearing impaired.
Museo degli Sguardi
Ethnographic Collection of Rimini
Villa Alvarado, Via delle Grazie 12 - – 47923 Rimini (Covignano)
Tel. 0541 751224 - Fax 0541 704410
e-mail: maurizio.biordi@comune.rimini.it
The museum hopuses a substantial and original ethnological with artifacts from Africa, Oceania and the Americas.
The Museum, hosted until 2000 at Castel Sismondo, is now situated at Villa Alvarado, site of the Museo Missionario delle Grazie.
During these years it has enriched the collection of Frati Francescani delle Grazie di Rimini, and the collection Ugo Canepa of Biella. Particulary intersting are the pre-Columbian documents and the Amazonian collection of Bruno Fosconi of Cesena.
Winter hours:
from Tue to Fri open by request with at least 3 days in advance;
Sat, Sun and holiday 10-13/16-19
closed Monday (unless it's a holiday)
Summer hours (from the midle of June to the midle of september)
from Tue to Fri 16:30-19
Sat, Sun and holiday 10-13/16:30-19:30
Tempio Malatestiano
Via IV Novembre, 35 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 51130 (sacristy) - Fax 0541 24024
e-mail: diocesi@diocesi.rimini.it
web http://www.diocesi.rimini.it/
Hours:
Working days: 8-12:30/15:30-19:00
Holidays: 9-13/ 15:30-19
free entry
Mid-way through the fifteenth century, Sigismondo Malatesta entrusted the grand architect Leon Battista Alberti with the job of perpetuating the glory of theMalatesta family (and Sigismondo's own glory) by modifying Rimini's cathedral. In his transformation of the existing gothic church of San Francesco, Alberti translated the noble canons of classicism into reality. The Tempio is home to works of great artistic merit including the Crucifix by Giotto, a fresco by Piero della Francesco, the sepulchers of Sigismondo and his wifeIsotta, the Arca degli Antenati, and a large painting by Vasari.
Museo nazionale del motociclo
Via Casalecchio, 58/N – 47924 Rimini
Tel. 0541 731096 - Fax 0541 633287
e-mail: info@museomotociclo.it
web: http://www.museomotociclo.it/
Hours:
Opening times:
1st November - 31 March; on corner market day or for group booking;
1st April - 31 October; from Thursday to Sunday 10.00-12.30; 15.00-19.00.
Admission prices:
Group € 4.00; under 12 free of charge
Roughly 200 objects and images, organized by theme and era, tell the story of the motorcycle from the early days to our times. It is also possible, upon request, to consult the well-stocked library containing more than 10,000 original volumes (perfect for those who are undertaking their own faithful restoration projects).
Museo artistico
Tesoro della Cattedrale della Curia Vescovile
Contiene reperti della Cattedrale
Via IV Novembre, 35 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 24613
On request.
Free Entry.
Museo Fellini
Via Nigra, 26 – 47923 Rimini
Tel. 0541 50085 - Fax 0541 57378
e-mail: fondazione@federicofellini.it
web www.federicofellini.it
Hours:
Sat and Sun 10-12 /16-19.
Thanks to the Foundation Federico Fellini and the family of the famous film director, the Museum is located in the city centre of Rimini, at the round floor of Fellini's house few steps from the train station. With expositions of costumes, elements take from film settino, sketches, pictures, etc.
Domus del Chirurgo
After 2000 years, the archaeological site of the Surgeon’s Domus has open to the public under an enormous crystal glass covering next to the City Museum. A little Pompeii in the city centre, which has already become famous in the world owing to its unique archaeological finds and to one of the richest surgical and pharmaceutical equipment of the ancient time, now kept in the museum.
The archaeological area in Piazza Ferrari came to light in 1989, during work on the municipal gardens. The chance unearthing of a number of Roman ruins was followed, up to 2006, by systematic excavations. Preliminary probes and stratigraphic excavations have brought to light an area covering a surface measuring more than 700 square metres.
In addition other finds of archaeological interest were unearthed, i.e. traces of flooring made of crushed potsherd fragments probably dating from a Late Republic period dwelling, as well as evidence of Early Medieval settlement, remains of several buildings from the 16th - 18th centuries, including a number of stone wells and corn silos originally belonging to the churches of San Patrignano and the Religious House of the "Convertite" (a charitable order of nuns looking after penitent prostitutes).
All the uncovered remains, preserved on a site museum basis, provides the picture of exceptional historical and urban stratification bearing witness to 2000 years of local history
Domus del Chirugo
Piazza Ferrari – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 054121482 - Fax 0541 704410
e-mail musei@comune.rimini.it
Winter hours
From Tue to Sat 8:30-12:30/17-19
Sun and holidays 10-12:30/15-19
closed on Monday (unless it's a holiday)
Summer hours (from the midle of June to the midle of September)
From Tue to Sat 10-12:30/16:30-19:30
Sun and holidays 16:30-19:30
closed on Monday (unless it's a holiday)
Tue and Fri of July and August 21-23 too.
Santuario museo missionario
Presso Convento Madonna delle Grazie
Via delle Grazie 10 – 47923 Rimini (Covignano)
Tel. 0541 751061 - Fax 0541 751582
Hours:
every day 6-12 /15-18
Theme Park of the Aviation
Via S. Aquilina 58 – 47923 Rimini (Cerbaiola - Km 8,55 SS Rimini - San Marino)
Tel. 0541 756696 - Fax 0541 905148
e-mail: info@museoaviazione.it
web: www.museoaviazione.com
Hours: every day 9-19
Closed from November to middle March
The largest collection of uniforms and italian pilot suits, historical pictures, documents, models, badge, medals. In a huge green park there are different airplanes and aviation means, used from World War II till todays. The museum has a free temporary comodate of a tank of World War II found 29th January 2000.
Castel Sismondo
Piazza Malatesta – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 787673 Fax 0541 788077
e-mail: segreteria@fondcarim.it
Only the central part of this castle, built by order of Sigismodo Pandolfo Malatesta in the fifteenth century, has survived to the present day. Originally conceived of as both palace and fortress - a worthy seat for the court and for the garrison and a sign of power and supremacy over the city - the building has retained its notable charm thanks to the large square towers and heavy scarp wall. Back in the days when the castle rose up out of a deep moat, the visual impact must have been truly formidable.
Libraries
Biblioteca Civica Gambalunga
Palazzo Gambalunga
Via Gambalunga, 27 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 704486 Fax 0541 704480
e-mail: gambalunghiana@comune.rimini.it
web: www.comune.rimini.it
Film libraries and Audiovisual libraries
Several Cinemas and Audiovisual libraries can be found in Rimini, some of them are to be mentioned for cultural educational activities characteristic
Cineteca Comunale
Assessorato alla cultura - Comune di Rimini
Via Gambalunga, 27 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 704302- Fax 0541 704306
e-mail: cineteca@comune.rimini.it
web: www.comune.rimini.it/cultura
Mediateca c/o Biblioteca Gambalunga
Via Gambalunga, 27 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 51105
The new multimedia room contains databases and on-line resourses, CD-ROMs visible on local network, a bibliographic consultation service, and a research assistance service.
Internet Access: (30 minutes = Euro 0.50).
Hours: from Mon to Fri 8-13 / 15-19
Sat 9-13
July and August from Mon to Sat 9-13
The cultural center's mediateca has more than 1300 records and CDs, 850 films on video, 400 documentaries and recordings of all the events organized by the Center (totalling 900).
Theaters
Teatro Ermete Novelli
Via Cappellini, 3 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 24152 - Fax 0541 21700
Teatro degli Atti
Via Cairoli, 42 – 47923 Rimini
Tel. and Fax 0541 784736
Here you can buy discounted tickets or season's passes for the performances that are part of the theater season at Teatro Novelli and Teatro degli Atti, for the symphonic concerts that make up the Sagra Musicale Malatestiana and the Concerti della Domenica (Sunday Concerts) organized by Teatro degli Atti and for other events organized by the Culture Office in the city's theaters.
Musical events & Co.
Percuotere la mente
Every year in the month of July Rimini is home to a music festival dedicated to new sounds that connect the past and the present and puts folk-music traditions from far and wide into contact with the universe of world music.
For information contact the city of Rimini's Istituzione Musica Teatro Eventi - Comune di Rimini
Via Gambalunga 27 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 704294 - Fax 0541 704306
e-mail: sagramalatestiana@comune.rimini.it
web: www.sagramalatestiana.it
Sagra Musicale Malatestiana
I grandi concerti sinfonici
Via Gambalunga, 27 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 704294 - Fax 0541 704306
e-mail: sagramalatestiana@comune.rimini.it
Ancient / Present
The Festival of the Ancient World
Roman Amphitheatre
Municipality of Rimini –Culture Division
Tel: 0541 704308/290
e-mail: festival.antico@comune.rimini.it
The distance, but at the same time the topicality of the ancient world is presented throughout a set of performances and workshops, between June and August, that take place among the ruins of the great Roman amphitheatre.
This is the heart of Ancient/Present, a festival to introduce yesterday’s and today’s texts, performed by actors and stars of the cultural scene
Cartoon Club
Via Circonvallazione Occidentale 58 – 47923 Rimini
Tel. 0541 784193 - Fax 0541 780534 - cell. 335 6509516
e-mail: info@cartoonclub.it
web: www.cartoonclub.it
In July, Rimini is home to Cartoon Club, an international festival dedicated to comics and animated cinema now in its twentieth year. Screenings, exhibits, animated films, encounters with the artists, performances and thousands of events, many of which are organized on the beach.
Cinema sotto le stelle and Amarena
c/o Cineteca comunale
Via Gambalunga, 27 – 47921 Rimini
Tel. 0541 704302 – Fax 0541 704306
e-mail: cineteca@comune.rimini.unibo.it
In the summer months Rimini is home to two important film festivals. A'marena, an itinerant festival, is set up in six different spots along the coast.Cinema sotto le stelle features the best films of the season, screened in the courtyard of the former Augustinian convent in the center of the city.
Rehearsal Rooms
Casa Pomposa
Via Pomposa, 8 – 47923 Rimini
Tel. 0541 771347
e-mail: pomposa@inwind.it
web www.casapomposa.it
Hours:
from Tue to Fri 15:30-23:30
Sat 15:30-19:30
Mon and Sun closed
Musilandia
Via Tosca, 18 – 47922 Rimini
Tel. 0541790306