Not just the beach

If you love nature and peace and quiet, the Rimini surronding countryside is perfect for you. Ride up into the valleys that cut through the Riviera: either the tame landscape of the Valconca valley, or the wilder Valmarecchia valley. 
You can travel by car or on foot along natural paths if you enjoy trekking. Or you can go by bike. Most hotels on the Riviera provide bicycles free-of-charge. 
The lush natural surroundings of our region begin not far from the beaches, where the rivers form small lakes between dense vegetation and well-cultivated fields. 
During the migration period a number of different bird species come to rest in this area. As you climb further into the valleys you'll discover vineyards, olive groves, and orchards, and then further up, the woods with chestnut and oak trees and green meadows.  

A bit further afield
If you prefer to remain  near the sea in an area full of pinewoods, the Saline di Cervia (Saltworks of Cervia) is just a few kilometres by car, following the coastline towards North. The saltworks date back 2,000 years. 
Here you can learn how salt was extracted many centuries ago and you can enjoy the tranquility and the rich variety of flora and fauna, strolling through the large natural park that surrounds them. 
Alternatively, if you have time, you can carry on by car to Ravenna, the city of mosaics (and of pinewoods) until you reach the Po River Delta, where you will find yourself immersed in a magical landscape with channels, small boats silently slipping through the water, rustling reeds and flapping wings.
If you head towards Forlì, you can visit the National park of the Ridracoli Dam, one of the most powerful in Europe, and enjoy the pleasant, green landscape.

nella foto, le grotte di Onferno

 If you are looking to add a bit of adventure to your trip while staying on the Riviera di Romagna, plan on making an excursion to explore the caves and other subterranean sites in the area.
  • In the Marches region, one hour from Rimini, you'll find the Frasassi caves, which are the biggest and best known in Italy. The main gallery is 223 metres long.
  • The caves of Onferno, located in the Valconca, are surrounded by a natural reserve, which contains important wildlife. This evocative karstic complex, equipped with an entrance and exit, is almost 400 metres long, with a drop of 64 metres. 
    It is said that Dante Alighieri was inspired by these grottoes when he described the entrance into Hell of his Divine Comedy.
  • The caves of Ponte Santa Maria Maddalena, which are 300 metres in length, and the five gypsum caves of San Marino, the largest of which is 145 metres with a 136 metre drop, are also natural cavities.
  • The caves of Santarcangelo, laid out on three levels, are a veritable underground city dug out by man. There are more than one hundred, but only a portion of these can be visited.
  • The numerous passages under Rimini were also created by man; the underground network of Cattolica dating back to the Bizantine era; the underground passages of Saludecio and the hills of Covignano and Verucchio; and the underground military tunnels of Mondaino.