Bellaria in Italy is considered to be an ideal place for a family vacation. A cozy town is located on the very shore of the Adriatic Sea a few kilometers from the bustling Rimini, but peace and tranquility reign here. Bellaria is surrounded by centuries-old pine forests, and the city itself is buried in man-made gardens with fountains and sculptures. Today BlogoItaliano will tell you more about the resort: how to get here and what to do here.
For a long time, Bellaria was a small fishing village, however, in the XIX century, the Italian aristocracy chose a picturesque place. Soon, near the fishing huts, luxurious villas grew up, many of which have survived to this day. Today, Bellaria receives 2.5 million tourists annually, but the city managed to preserve the charm of a medieval port-canal.
In the XIX century, the Italian aristocracy chose this town for their vacation
In 1986, Bellaria, one of the first in Italy, acquired a special pedestrian zone, stretching between the two main city squares, Mattetotti and Minzoni. The 800-meter terrenkur runs through Platanov Island (Isola dei Platani), where there are numerous boutiques, bars, cinemas, discos and game rooms. At the same time, entertainment venues are located away from most hotels and are unlikely to interfere with those who prefer a relaxing holiday.
How to get to Bellaria
Since Bellaria is located next to the popular resort of Rimini, it is not difficult to get here. The nearest Federico Fellini Airport is about 15 km from the city.
The easiest way to get to Bellaria from the airport is by taxi. It is better to call the car to board your flight in advance via the Internet. This can be done through the popular Kiwitaxi service. Its main advantage is the ability to calculate the tariff in advance and, thus, to avoid markups on the spot. You can check the current taxi fare from Rimini Airport to Bellaria on this page.
Federico Fellini Airport is just 15 km from the resort
Trains and buses also run regularly from Rimini Train Station to Bellaria. Travel time will be approximately 20 minutes, and one trip will cost from 1.3 to 2.2 euros. Train timetables can be found here. Bus route 4 to Bellaria runs along the north coast to San Mauro a Mare.
Hotels and lodging
A distinctive feature of the city is the lack of a roadway between hotels and the beach, which is rare on the Adriatic coast. There are many coastal hotels in Bellaria, and therefore there is plenty to choose from for every taste and budget. Here, for example, is a list of Bellaria hotels with current discounts:
Climate and weather
Bellaria is located in the subtropical Mediterranean climate, and even in winter the thermometer rarely drops below +5 ° C, while in summer the air temperature stably stays in the region of + 30 ° C. Rainfall is rare here, the summer months, as a rule, are completely without rains.
The swimming season opens in May and lasts until October.
The swimming season opens in May, although the water at this time of the year can still be a little cool, and lasts until the first half of October.
What to see and do in Bellaria
The main attraction of the city is the Saracen Tower (Torre Saracena), built in 1673 as part of an urban defensive fortress. It is this tower that flaunts on the coat of arms of Bellaria, where there are also classic marine symbols: the anchor and the rising sun.
Currently, the interior of the tower is occupied by the Maritime Museum, which acquaints visitors with the rich underwater life of the Adriatic Sea. The collection of mollusks and shells is complemented by an exposition of fossils collected from all the seas and oceans of the world. There is also a museum of obsolete banknotes.
Saracen Tower - The main attraction of the city
Among the many mansions of the city stands Casa Rossa - the house where the writer Alfredo Pantsini stayed. Now there is also a museum.
If you are not ready to spend the whole vacation on the beach, then, of course, you should go on an excursion to one of the nearest cities. Given its location, it is easiest to travel from Bellaria to Rimini, San Marino, Bologna, Florence, Ravenna and Venice.
Of the lesser-known places, it is highly recommended to go to Urbino, the homeland of Raphael and the second most important Renaissance city after Florence, to the medieval fortress of Mondavio and Castle of Gradara. BlogoItaliano wrote in more detail about the most popular excursions in the region in this article, and about organizing an individual trip, you can contact Victoria, our familiar guide from Rimini.
Casa Rossa - House-Museum of the Writer Alfredo Pantsini
By the way, the surroundings of Rimini is also a real Mecca for Shopping lovers: there are many outlets and showrooms from Italian factories where you can find anything you want at very nice prices. BlogoItaliano wrote more about this in the article Outlets in Rimini: geography for shopaholics.
Beaches in Bellaria
The coastline of the resort is a wide and well-equipped beach strip 7 km long. Bellaria's beach is famous for fine golden sand and a gentle slope to the water, which is convenient for families with children.
Bellaria beach is fine golden sand and a gentle slope to the water
Numerous restaurants and cafes along the coast will delight you with national Italian cuisine. On the beach itself, sports fields for beach volleyball and football are equipped, on especially hot days sand is even poured here with water from hoses so that it is not too hot.
For outdoor enthusiasts, you can rent surfing equipment and other water activities. In the harbor of Bellaria-Igea Marina, you can take a look at a yacht or boat and take a boat trip.
On the beach there are sports fields for volleyball and football
As an alternative to a beach holiday, the huge AquaBelle water park is perfect. A huge number of water attractions buried in the jungle, as well as numerous cafes with ice cream and a pizzeria, will allow you to spend a whole day here, full of pleasures and impressions.
