01Bellaria Igea Marina at a glance
A trip up the coast from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini. Bellaria Igea Marina is the first resort north of Rimini, with the Isola dei Platani, the harbour canal on the Uso, Alfredo Panzini's Casa Rossa, the Torre Saracena and a long beach of fine sand.
It's 10.0 km from the hotel, about 20 minutes by car, so you're back by the sea in time for our Romagna cooking in the evening. For festivals and events, see our events in Rimini page.
| Where | Piazzale Antonio Gramsci, 47814 Bellaria-Igea Marina (RN), in front of Bellaria railway station, where the Isola dei Platani (Viale Paolo Guidi) begins |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 10.0 km, about 20 minutes |
| By train | Bellaria railway station |
| When to go | all year round; in summer, the beach and evenings on the Isola dei Platani |
02History and fun facts
- Bellaria Igea Marina is about 14 km north of Rimini, where the river Uso meets the sea. The name Bellaria is old: a fortified residence called "Bellaere", near the church of Santa Margherita in Bellaria Monte, is mentioned in a Malatesta will of 1311. Legend has it, though, that the name comes from Pope Gregory XII, who, while staying with Carlo Malatesta, is said to have exclaimed "Oh, che bell'aere" ("Oh, what lovely air").
- Igea Marina takes its name from Hygieia (Igea), the Greek goddess of health. In 1905 the doctor and botanist Vittorio Belli began building on the dunes between the right bank of the Uso and Torre Pedrera, planting thousands of pine seeds himself. The streets of Igea Marina still follow his grid plan and are named after Latin poets and philosophers.
- The town became a municipality in its own right in 1956, splitting from Rimini with the villages of Bellaria, Igea Marina and Bordonchio, and was given the title of Città (town) in 2015. As early as the first decades of the 20th century, well-off families from northern Italy came by train for sea bathing, staying in houses let by fishermen.
- The Isola dei Platani is the pedestrian zone in the centre of Bellaria: Viale Paolo Guidi, lined with trees and benches, runs from the station on Piazzale Gramsci to Piazza Matteotti. It's the street for shopping and an evening stroll, with shows and events; Viale Ennio in Igea Marina is another tree-lined pedestrian street.
- The harbour canal at the mouth of the Uso is one of the liveliest parts of town. By the late 19th century fishermen were already repairing their lance, battane and paranze (traditional fishing boats) here. Today you can walk past the boats and fishing vessels to the new pier and look along the coast and out to sea.
- The Torre Saracena (Saracen Tower) was built in 1673 by the Apostolic Camera of the Papal States to protect the coast from raids by Turkish pirates. Of the six towers along this stretch of coast, it's the only one that still has its original features: three vaulted floors with a spiral staircase inside. It also appears on the town's coat of arms.
03Things to see and do
The upper floors of the Torre Saracena house the Museo delle Conchiglie (Shell Museum), with shells, corals, crustaceans and turtle shells from around the world. In the garden around the tower, the Giardino delle Vele displays lug sails in the colours of local seafaring families, along with a few "batanicci", small old fishing boats.
The Casa Rossa is the villa the writer Alfredo Panzini (1863-1939) bought in 1909 and where he spent many summers with his family. After restoration work finished in 2006, his rooms opened to the public in 2007. Around the house is a park with Mediterranean plants, a children's play area and a picnic area, where literary talks and concerts are held in summer.
The Borgata Vecchia, along Via Romea and Via Ionio, began in the Middle Ages as a staging post where the road crossed the Uso. Since 1993 it has hosted the folk music festival "La Borgata che danza", and with the paintings and sculptures added since 2018 it has become an open-air art gallery.
The "Sentieri per l'Uso" is a cycle and walking path of about 6 km along the river, from Via Fornace in Bellaria to Villa Torlonia in San Mauro Pascoli, with 9 rest areas. Along the way you may spot grey herons and kingfishers, and you'll see the church of Santa Margherita and the Castello Benelli.
The beach runs along Viale Colombo and Viale Carrà in Bellaria and Viale Pinzon in Igea Marina. Shallow water and well-equipped beach establishments make it a good choice for families with children, and the resort has a Blue Flag. There's also a free public beach next to the harbour canal, by Piazzale Capitaneria di porto.
"Noi", the Museo della Storia e della Memoria (Museum of History and Memory, Via Ferrarin 30, in the old slaughterhouse), tells the story of the town, from the Roman settlements along the Via Popilia to its seafaring and seaside traditions. Among the finds is a 4th-century AD mosaic discovered at Bordonchio. Since 1983 the town has also hosted the Bellaria Film Festival, devoted to independent cinema.
Sources: Riviera di Rimini · bellariaigeamarina.org · Wikipedia · comune.bellaria-igea-marina.rn.it. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
The centre, the harbour canal, the beach and the Sentieri per l'Uso are open to all, free of charge. Bellaria railway station faces Piazzale Gramsci, where the Isola dei Platani begins. Inside are the IAT tourist office (Piazzale Gramsci 5, tel. 0541 343808, open 8am–2pm, hours published in October 2026) and the Collezione di Radio d'Epoca (Vintage Radio Collection), with around 140 sets. Museums in summer 2026: Alfredo Panzini's Casa Rossa (Via Pisino 1), the Torre Saracena with the Museo delle Conchiglie (Via Torre 75) and the Collezione di Radio d'Epoca were open daily except Mondays, 9pm to 11pm. The Casa Rossa opens in the evenings from the second week of June to the second week of September; the rest of the year there are special openings and visits by appointment (Ufficio Cultura, tel. 0541 343746). In summer a little tourist train runs between Bellaria and Igea Marina.
Opening hours, prices and dates may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: comune.bellaria-igea-marina.rn.it · bellariaigeamarina.org · Riviera di Rimini. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 10.0 km, about 20 minutes. At reception we'll suggest the best route and where to park; your space in our fenced, CCTV-covered private car park stays free for you.
Without a car: take bus no. 4 from stop 25, 100 metres from the hotel, to Rimini railway station, then a regional train to Bellaria.
06Nearby
- Igea Marina and the Parco del Gelso
- Villa Torlonia in San Mauro Pascoli, at the end of the Sentieri per l'Uso
- Giovanni Pascoli's birthplace in San Mauro Pascoli (about 10 km)
- Santarcangelo di Romagna (about 13 km)
- Italia in Miniatura in Viserba di Rimini (about 8 km)
- Torre Pedrera and Viserbella, towards Rimini along the coast
- Cesenatico and Milano Marittima
- Santarcangelo di Romagna
- Italia in Miniatura
More ideas for days out on our things to do in Rimini and inland hills and villages pages.
07What our guests say
What guests say about the hotel's location and days out.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Handy for everything
«excellent location, close to everything, the sea included, but on a quiet street.»
08FAQ
What is the Isola dei Platani in Bellaria?
It's the pedestrian zone in the centre of Bellaria: Viale Paolo Guidi, a tree-lined street with benches that runs from the railway station on Piazzale Gramsci to Piazza Matteotti. It's where people go shopping and where events are held, such as the Halloween party on 31 October 2026.
When can you visit Alfredo Panzini's Casa Rossa?
The Casa Rossa (Red House), at Via Pisino 1, opens in the evenings from the second week of June to the second week of September; in summer 2026 it was open daily except Mondays, 9pm to 11pm. The rest of the year there are special openings and visits by appointment (tel. 0541 343746).
Can you cycle along the river Uso?
Yes. The Sentieri per l'Uso is a cycle and walking path of about 6 km from Via Fornace in Bellaria to Villa Torlonia in San Mauro Pascoli, with 9 rest areas with benches, picnic tables and play equipment.
How far is Bellaria Igea Marina from Hotel Viking?
10.0 km, about 20 minutes by car from Viserbella di Rimini; without a car, take the bus to Rimini railway station and then the train.
How long do I need for Bellaria Igea Marina?
Half a day is enough for the Isola dei Platani, the harbour canal and the Casa Rossa. Cycle there along the coast and it becomes a lovely day out.
Where should I stay to explore the Romagna Riviera?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini: a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year and halfway between Ravenna and Gabicce.
