01Coriano at a glance
A hill town between Rimini, Riccione and San Marino, with a Malatesta castle, a large Commonwealth war cemetery and the places that remember Marco Simoncelli, known as Il Sic.
From Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini, it's 20.8 km, about 35 minutes by car: set off after breakfast and you'll be back by the sea in the evening for our Romagna cooking. For more ideas, see our villages to visit in the hills page.
| Where | Castello di Coriano (Malatesta castle), Via Malatesta, 47853 Coriano (RN) |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 20.8 km, about 35 minutes |
| When to go | all year; Sunday at sunset for the Sic flame, late November for the Fiera dell'oliva (olive fair) |
02History
- The fortress of Coriano is first mentioned in 1197. In 1356 the Church of Ravenna handed it over to the Malatesta, who held it for about two centuries.
- Under Roberto Malatesta the castle became the family's summer residence, and the walls were rebuilt and extended.
- In 1528 Pope Clement VII granted Coriano to the Sassatelli family of Imola, who rebuilt the damaged castle and placed their coat of arms over the entrance gate.
- On 14 September 1944, as the Eighth Army broke through the Gothic Line, the town was bombed again and again until it was almost completely destroyed.
- The church of Santa Maria Assunta, rebuilt after the war and opened in 1953, holds a 13th-century wooden crucifix.
- Marco Simoncelli, born in Cattolica on 20 January 1987, grew up in Coriano. He was 250cc world champion in 2008 and died on 23 October 2011 at the Malaysian Grand Prix, aged 24.
03What to see
The Castello di Coriano, built by the Malatesta in the 13th century, stands just outside the centre in lovely countryside. What survives is the polygonal fortified enclosure with sloping walls, the 14th-century gate tower, the 16th-century gateway with the Sassatelli coat of arms in stone, and an ice house that is one of the largest in Romagna. In two rooms near the entrance, a small antiquarium shows finds from the excavations of the early 2000s.
The Museo Marco Simoncelli, La storia del Sic (The Story of Sic), is at Via Garibaldi 127. Its three rooms, put together by his parents Rossella and Paolo with the designer Aldo Drudi, tell the rider's life story: bikes, helmets, leathers and trophies, nearly all of which you can see up close and mostly not behind glass.
Two monuments in the centre remember Sic. The Podio del Sic (Sic's podium), in the Giardini don Michele Bertozzi at the foot of the church steps, is made of three stone cubes set in a curve like a racetrack. The sculpture Ogni domenica (Every Sunday), in the gardens below Piazza don Minzoni, sends up a flame for 58 seconds every Sunday at sunset.
The Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, at Via Piane 4, is the resting place of 1,939 Commonwealth servicemen who died in the Second World War. It is a beautifully kept garden cemetery, always open, created in 1945 by bringing together graves from the battlefields around the area.
At the top of the hill stands the church of Santa Maria Assunta, the shrine of the Santissimo Crocifisso (Holy Crucifix), with its 13th-century wooden crucifix. Nearby, the Teatro comunale (town theatre), one of the few buildings to survive the war, is a 19th-century building designed by Alessandro Ferri, which reopened in 2006.
Around the town the countryside is all olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields, with views of Monte Titano. Coriano is the main town of the Marano valley, where a river park has been laid out for walking and cycling.
Sources: it.wikipedia.org · riviera.rimini.it · motorvalley.it · cwgc.org · museionline.info Information checked in October 2026.
04Festivals and food fairs
- Fiera dell'oliva e dei prodotti autunnali (olive and autumn produce fair), late November, in the old town; in 2026: 21–22 November: A show and market with extra virgin olive oil, olives, truffles, new wine, formaggio di fossa (pit-aged cheese), crafts, music and traditional games. Free entry.
Dates change every year, so always check before you set off. Sources: riviera.rimini.it
05Visitor information
Museo Marco Simoncelli, La storia del Sic (Via G. Garibaldi 127, 47853 Coriano): from 1 June to 30 September open every day except Tuesday, 10am-1pm and 3.30pm-7.30pm; from 1 October to 31 May open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, same hours. Last entry 45 minutes before closing; the museum asks visitors to follow its Facebook page La Storia del Sic for any changes. We couldn't find a published entry price. Coriano Ridge War Cemetery (Via Piane 4, 47853 Coriano): always open, free entry. We couldn't find up-to-date opening times for the Castello di Coriano and its antiquarium, so it's best to check with the Comune (town council) before you go. By bus, Coriano is linked to Rimini by Start Romagna line 20 and to Riccione by line 58.
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: motorvalley.it · cwgc.org · riviera.rimini.it · it.wikipedia.org Information checked in October 2026.
06How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 20.8 km, about 35 minutes. At reception we'll suggest the best route and where to park, and we can make you a packed lunch if you ask.
Your space back at the hotel stays free in our private car park, which is fenced and has CCTV. You'll find other places to see on the same day below.
07Nearby
- Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
- San Marino
- Riccione
- Gemmano and the Grotte di Onferno (Onferno Caves)
- Montefiore Conca
All the villages on one page: villages to visit in the hills. For more ideas, see things to do in Rimini.
08What our guests say
What our guests say about their day trips.
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
Sea and hills
«great view from the balcony, towards the sea on one side and the hinterland on the other»
09FAQ
When is the Marco Simoncelli Museum open, and how much does it cost?
From June to September it's open every day except Tuesday, and from October to May on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, always 10am-1pm and 3.30pm-7.30pm, with last entry 45 minutes before closing. We couldn't find a published price, so it's worth checking the Facebook page La Storia del Sic.
How long should I allow for Coriano?
A morning or an afternoon is enough for the Sic museum, the monuments in the centre and the castle. Add the Commonwealth war cemetery and a drive through the countryside and you'll want a good half day.
When is the flame for Sic lit?
Every Sunday at sunset the sculpture Ogni domenica (Every Sunday), in the gardens below Piazza don Minzoni, sends up a flame for 58 seconds, matching Simoncelli's racing number.
Can you visit the castle in Coriano?
What's left is the walls, the 14th-century gate tower, the gateway with the Sassatelli coat of arms and a large ice house, and inside there's a small antiquarium. We couldn't find up-to-date opening times, so it's best to ask the Comune before you go.
How far is Coriano from Hotel Viking?
20.8 km, about 35 minutes by car from Viserbella di Rimini.
Where should I stay to visit Coriano?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella di Rimini is a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a private car park, open all year and well placed for day trips.
