Italian city mixes nightlife with culture and makes for the perfect girls' mini-break
Cycling along the 15km seafront promenade, my friends and I all turn our heads at the same time to take in the view of the bronzed men playing volleyball on the beach.
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Italian city Rimini is adored for its sandy beaches, arts and vibrant culture
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Donna found Rimini to be the perfect city for a girls' mini-break
It's 8pm on a Friday in
The sun is still shining and the seafront is packed with people of all ages and from all walks of life, while bodyboarders catch the last waves.
After locking up our bikes, we head to the pier for one of
It's buzzing, and while the outside bar pumps out loud house music to a younger crowd, I feast on delicious amberjack tortellini on asparagus cream, with a tomato confit and toasted almond flakes, £15, paired with a bottle of white Sartori Lugana wine, £19, in the elegant but relaxed interior (
On the way back to our hotel, the i-Suite, we stop for a nightcap at Barrumba, a pizza restaurant and live-music venue next door.
At 1am, it's heaving and blasting out dance anthems – no one is in any rush for the night to end (
Revellers are relaxing in i-Suite's 24-hour pool, too, and we're tempted to join them – but for our early start to explore the city in a few hours' time.
B&B for three people costs from £83 per person (
Most read in City breaks
PIAZZA THE ACTION
I'm in need of coffee and sugar come sunrise, and the friendly hotel waiter brings me a smooth cappuccino within minutes.
7 TOURIST DESTINATIONS - EVERGREEN LISTICLE
We hire bikes for the day, £16 per person, and head to the historic old town, a 15-minute cycle away (
It's charming, with cobbled streets, ancient Roman landmarks, stunning medieval monuments and lively piazzas.
Our first stop is the atmospheric Fellini Museum, which is dedicated to Italian film director and screenwriter
Museum entry costs £8.50 (
Next, we head to Nud e Crud for a piada.
It's the
I opt for the PidGreek with grilled chicken, salad and tzatziki, £8.50 – so tasty I could easily eat another – and sip a very reasonably priced Aperol Spritz, £5 (
That evening, we take a short train, £3, to Cesenatico – a small and pretty town in the heart of the Riviera Romagnola – to enjoy seafood at Osteria Bartolini, a cute trattoria with alfresco tables overlooking the canal.
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You'll be happy as a clam at Osteria Bartolini
We share a bottle of crisp Pignoletto Frizzante, £19.50, baby cuttlefish with artichokes, £18, potato and cod croquettes, £14, and boneless and fried sardines with aromatic tomato, £14 – all of which are fresh and tasty (
We skip dessert and head back to cute Gelateria Pellicano, behind our hotel, for creamy salted caramel gelato, £3.50 (
The next day, we wander through the lush greenery of Parco Cervi, which takes us from the beach through grand giant arch Arco di Augusto, where shops are brimming with designer and high-street fashion, art galleries and souvenirs, such as leather goods, ceramics and local wine.
I can't resist picking up some delicious olive oil.
TIRAMIS-SO GOOD!
We decide to spend the afternoon sunbathing at the most popular free beach, Marina Centro at Piazzale Boscovich in the harbour area, before heading back to our hotel to change for a cycle over to dinner at The Grand Hotel Rimini.
This five-star hotel has always been considered the symbol of 'la dolce vita' on the
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Rock Island is a perfect place to watch the sunset with a glass of wine
It has hosted many celebrities in its time, including Princess Diana and actress Sharon Stone.
Its ancient ballrooms are the beautiful setting for the (aptly titled) La Dolce Vita gourmet restaurant, where prices are surprisingly reasonable.
The traditional risotto with carnaroli rice and grape and golden apple sauce, £19, is light and flavoursome, and for dessert, we all agree the tiramisu, £10.50, is to die for (
On another night, we treat ourselves to dinner at San Marino's fanciest restaurant, La Terrazza, which has breathtaking panoramic views.
I start with the cheese and cold cuts selection with local mustards and honey from San Marino, £14 – the best I've ever had – before digging into handmade tagliolini pasta served with julienned crispy serrano ham and black truffle, £14, which also tastes amazing.
A bottle of sparkling Pievalta Perlugo, £21.50, goes down rather nicely, too (
We head back to Rimini train station on our last day to catch a bus to San Marino – the world's smallest republic state – located on a mountain top.
After the 50-minute journey, £5, we hop on a cable car to the top of Monte Titano and walk among picturesque townhouses and cobbled streets, where three old castles and towers are linked by strong walls and fortifications.
Wandering along the Passo delle Streghe, a fortified pathway between two of the towers, we learn its name means 'steps of the witches'.
Ancient legend has it that witches could sometimes be seen dancing on the rocks of Monte Titano at night!
Read more on the Irish Sun
Whether that's true or not, Rimini has proved to be one magical mini-break.
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Experience the magic of Passo delle Streghe
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