Where is Riccione located?
One of the resorts of the “Adriatic Riviera” (as the town of Riccione is also known) is located in the Emilia-Romagna region, south of Rimini, and was previously part of it.
The population of Riccione is relatively small — around 35,000 residents, and the town covers an area of 17 km². Its location on the Adriatic Sea coast defines its character, so most locals are engaged in fishing or work in the tourism industry.
The History of the Resort Riccione
The fashionable resort on the Adriatic coast was not always as it is now; it originally started as a small village. The town of Riccione was founded in ancient times and was called Arconis. The development of modern Rimini (formerly known as Ariminum) also influenced the infrastructure of Arconis, resulting in the construction of buildings from the ancient Roman era in the city.
Later, the name of the town, Riccione, was associated with the famous and influential Agolanti family from Florence, who were connected to the Malatesta dynasty, which contributed to the development of the neighboring resort of Rimini. The wealthy Agolanti family owned a castle of the same name from 1260, which is now frequently visited by tourists.
However, until the mid-19th century, the modern resort was still a small village with a population of about 1,000 people. The situation changed after 1861 when a railway was built in the city, and from that moment, the town began to resemble a modern resort. At the same time, the construction of luxurious residences in the Emilia-Romagna region began, attracting wealthy merchants to settle there.
In the late 19th century, strategic changes took place in the city. With the arrival of the Checcarini couple, the resort ceased to be just a fraction of Rimini. The first hospital was built here, wide avenues were created, and the main street of the city was named after the famous patron family - Viale Ceccarini.
In 1916, the city was affected by an earthquake, and its reconstruction began only in the post-war years. In 1922, the town of Riccione became completely independent from its neighbor, Rimini.
Benito Mussolini also made his contribution to the development of the city. In 1934, his wife Donna Rachele acquired a villa here, where they spent the next 20 years. As a result, the news about the resort became known worldwide, bringing incredible popularity to the city and influencing the formation of its image.
