01Arch of Augustus at a glance
A trip out from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini. The Arch of Augustus is Rimini's Roman gateway and the oldest Roman honorary arch still standing. It marks the start of the old town, where the Via Flaminia entered the city.
From Hotel Viking in Viserbella it's about 25 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bike along the seafront, or you can take the no. 4 bus, which stops 100 metres from the hotel.
| Address | Largo Giulio Cesare, 47921 Rimini RN (start of Corso d'Augusto) |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 10.0 km, about 25 minutes |
| By bike | 7.1 km, about 30 minutes |
| On foot | 6.8 km, about 90 minutes |
| By bus | bus no. 4 (stop 25) to the station, then about 15 minutes on foot |
| Entrance | It's an open-air monument you can see for free at any time. It stands in Largo Giulio Cesare, at the start of Corso d'Augusto. |
02History
- The Roman Senate had it built in 27 BC as an honorary gateway in honour of Octavian Augustus, as the inscription above the arch tells us.
- The inscription records Augustus's restoration of the Via Flaminia and of Italy's other main roads.
- It's thought to be the oldest surviving Roman arch in northern Italy. Together with the Ponte di Tiberio (Tiberius Bridge), it has always been a symbol of the city, and it even appears on Rimini's coat of arms.
- It was the way into the city for travellers coming from Rome on the Via Flaminia, built by the consul Flaminius in 220 BC. Through the arch they entered the decumanus maximus, today's Corso d'Augusto.
- Like the Ponte di Tiberio, it is faced with Istrian stone; the central archway is about 9 metres wide.
03What to see
The opening is too wide ever to have been closed with gates: a message of peace (the Pax Augusta, after the victory at Actium in 31 BC) at the end of the civil wars.
The four clipei (roundels) depict deities: Jupiter and Apollo on the side facing Rome, Neptune and the goddess Roma on the side facing the city.
Originally an attic on top carried a statue of the emperor on horseback or in a four-horse chariot. The top was possibly brought down by earthquakes, and in the Middle Ages it was crowned with brick battlements.
It was part of the city's first walls, and stretches of them in blocks of local stone survive on either side. It has stood alone since the buildings around it were demolished in the 1930s (1936-1938).
Sources: Comune di Rimini · Visit Rimini · Wikipedia. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
It's an open-air monument you can see for free at any time, in Largo Giulio Cesare at the start of Corso d'Augusto. From the station, walk down viale Dante to Piazza Tre Martiri, then turn left to Largo Giulio Cesare.
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: Comune di Rimini. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 10.0 km, about 25 minutes depending on traffic. The old town is a limited traffic zone (ZTL), so park in one of the public car parks on the edge of the centre. Your space in our private car park stays free for you.
By bike: 7.1 km, about 30 minutes, nearly all of it on the Parco del Mare cycle path into Rimini. The hotel has bike storage, there are hire bikes along the way and there's a bike-hire shop 1.5 km away (cycling holidays).
By bus: bus no. 4 stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and runs to Rimini railway station; from there it's about 15 minutes on foot.
06Nearby
- Corso d'Augusto, the old Roman decumanus, which runs through the centre to the Ponte di Tiberio
- Piazza Tre Martiri (~350 m, about 5 minutes on foot)
- Tempio Malatestiano (Malatesta Temple) (~300 m, about 4-5 minutes on foot)
- Castel Sismondo and Piazza Cavour (about 600-700 m, 8-10 minutes on foot)
- Ponte di Tiberio (~950 m along Corso d'Augusto, about 12-15 minutes on foot)
- Tempio Malatestiano
- Domus del Chirurgo
- Teatro Galli and Piazza Cavour
More ideas on our things to do in Rimini, events in Rimini and inland hills and villages pages.
07What our guests say
What guests say about the hotel's location and days out.
Handy for everything
«excellent location, close to everything, the sea included, but on a quiet street.»
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
08FAQ
How old is the Arch of Augustus in Rimini?
It dates from 27 BC, so it's more than 2,000 years old, and it's thought to be the oldest surviving Roman arch in northern Italy.
Why does the Arch of Augustus have no gates?
The opening is so wide (about 9 metres) that it could never have had gates. It was a symbol of the peace Augustus brought after the civil wars.
How far is Hotel Viking from the Arch of Augustus?
10.0 km, about 25 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bike along the seafront.
How do I get to the Arch of Augustus without a car?
By bus no. 4, which stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and runs to Rimini railway station, or by bike along the Parco del Mare cycle path.
Do I need a ticket for the Arch of Augustus?
It's an open-air monument you can see for free at any time. It stands in Largo Giulio Cesare, at the start of Corso d'Augusto.
Where can I stay nearby?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella is a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a pool, private car park and Romagna cooking, a few minutes from the centre of Rimini.
