01Darsena and harbour canal at a glance
A day out from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family’s 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini. The harbour canal is where Rimini’s fishing and seafaring life goes on: trawlers tied up along the Marecchia, the Palata with its lighthouse and, across the water, the Darsena and its marina.
From Hotel Viking in Viserbella it’s about 25 minutes by car or 27 minutes by bike along the seafront. You can also take the no. 4 bus, which stops 100 metres from the hotel.
| Address | Marina di Rimini, Largo Ruggero Boscovich, 47921 Rimini (RN); harbour canal between San Giuliano Mare and Marina Centro |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 7.0 km, about 25 minutes |
| By bike | 6.0 km, about 27 minutes |
| On foot | 6.0 km, about 75 minutes |
| By bus | bus no. 4 (stop 25) to the railway station, then about a 25-minute walk |
| Entrance | No. The harbour canal, the Palata and its pier, and the walk around the marina are all public spaces, open to everyone and free. |
02History
- The harbour canal grew up at the original mouth of the River Marecchia, with quays on both banks. It has stood for Rimini’s life on the sea since Roman times, through the Middle Ages and the rule of the Malatesta.
- The left bank belongs to the fishing trade: boatyards, workshops and the wholesale fish market, one of the biggest on the Adriatic.
- The Palata is the historic tip of the east pier. Fellini remembered it in the night scene of the liner Rex in Amarcord, and Valerio Zurlini filmed Alain Delon walking here in the fog for 'La prima notte di quiete'.
- The lighthouse stands on the east side of the harbour. The first design dates from 1733 (Luigi Vanvitelli, at the request of Pope Clement XII), and Giovan Francesco Buonamici finished the tower in 1745. It was damaged in the Second World War and the present light was switched on in 1946.
- The light sits 27 metres above sea level and can be seen 15 nautical miles away.
03What to see
The Marina di Rimini opened in 2002 in San Giuliano Mare, between the harbour and the mouth of the Marecchia. It has roughly 620-660 berths (official sources disagree on the exact figure), and a 1,300-metre raised walkway runs all the way round it.
It is often rated among the finest and most modern marinas in the Mediterranean. Yachts and sailing boats moor here, and it hosts a good number of sporting events.
Along the pier runs a 200-metre walkway built straight out over the sea. In the evening the Palata glows with the lights of the fishing boats coming home. Fellini made it the winter hangout of his 'Vitelloni'.
A little further upstream, past the Ponte di Tiberio, is Borgo San Giuliano, the old fishermen’s quarter, with murals of scenes from Fellini’s films. More murals line the Lungofiume degli Artisti along the Marecchia diversion channel, telling the story of the area and its trabucchi fishing huts.
Sources: Emilia-Romagna Turismo · italyformovies.com · Wikipedia (English) · Riviera di Rimini. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
The harbour canal, the Palata and its pier, and the walk around the marina are all public spaces, open to everyone and free. The lighthouse can only be seen from outside. The Mercato Coperto (covered market) has more than 60 stalls and is open Monday to Saturday, 7:00 to 19:45.
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: Emilia-Romagna Turismo. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 7.0 km, about 25 minutes depending on traffic. The historic centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL), so park in one of the public car parks on the edge of the centre. Your space back at the hotel stays free in our private car park.
By bike: 6.0 km, about 27 minutes, nearly all of it on the Parco del Mare cycle path into Rimini. The hotel has a bike store, you’ll pass bike hire points on the way, and there’s a bike hire shop 1.5 km from the hotel (cycling holidays).
By bus: the no. 4 stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and runs to Rimini railway station. From there it’s about 25 minutes on foot.
06Nearby
- Borgo San Giuliano and the Ponte di Tiberio, further up the canal
- Lungofiume degli Artisti and the mouth of the Marecchia, with murals
- Parco Briolini in San Giuliano Mare, with a children's playground
- San Giuliano Mare beach and, across the canal, the Palata and Marina Centro beach
- Wholesale fish market, on the left bank of the canal
- Ponte di Tiberio and Borgo San Giuliano
- Parco del Mare and the northern seafront
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
What is the Palata in Rimini?
The historic tip of the east pier on the harbour canal. It’s a favourite seaside walk for locals and appears in films by Fellini (Amarcord, I Vitelloni) and Zurlini.
How many berths does Rimini's marina have?
Marina di Rimini opened in 2002 and has roughly 620-660 berths: Riviera di Rimini says 662, Emilia-Romagna Turismo 622. A 1,300-metre raised walkway runs all the way round it.
How far is Hotel Viking from the Darsena and harbour canal?
7.0 km: about 25 minutes by car, or 27 minutes by bike along the seafront.
How do I get to the Darsena and harbour canal 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 Darsena and harbour canal?
No. The harbour canal, the Palata and its pier, and the walk around the marina are all public spaces, open to everyone and free.
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.
