Little remains of this historic castle built by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta in 1437 in Rimini. Today's visitor will see only a small part of the great fortification on the Piazza Malatesta, but the construction still has its large square towers and solid walls intact. The original plans were that the castle should look like a fort dominated by a large keep and surrounded by a deep dyke with drawbridges. It served as a prison under the rule of the papacy, then again during the bombardments of the last war. Today, it is also home to the Fellini Museum, which makes for an indulgent treat for movie buffs.
The Palazzetto del Podestà was built in 1334. It has undergone numerous transformations over the course of the Centuries. It was barbarously changed, along with the Palazzo dell'Arengo, and partly demolished when it was included into a 17th-century building. The older building's Gothic shape was largely hidden by the newer Lombard lines. The entire piazza was restored to its former glory by the famous architect Gaspare Rastelli between 1912 and 1922. There are three Gothic frontal arches. They used to hang criminals from a rope in the center arch. The floor above has battlements and five small windows. Nowadays the Palazzo del Podestà is used as an exhibition space by the city's museums.
The uprooting of a tree led to the discovery of the remains of a Roman house probably from the 2nd Century CE which was burned down at the end of the 3rd Century. The house was hidden below Piazza Ferrari and is now on show during the summer months next to the gardens where children play on the swings. Excavation has unearthed decorated plaster, vases, oil lamps, decorative statuettes, bronze decorations and a treasure of about 90 coins. A room with a polychrome mosaic showing Orpheus in the center can be seen. The house has also revealed the largest collection of medical instruments from the Roman world plus mortars, scales, measures and vases for the preparation and conservation of medicines. The building takes its name from these findings.
The Arch of Augustus is a city-gate built in 27 BCE and is one of the oldest surviving Roman arches. The structure is unusually large compared to other Roman arches, which has lead some historians to believe the gate was not meant to be easily closed so it wasn't used for defense. This arch is featured on Rimini's coat of arms, making it an important city icon.
This scenic Roman bridge connects the end of Corso Augusto with Borgo San Giuliano, which is a medieval village that has numerous frescos with interesting murals of the life and works of Federico Fellini. The bridge was built over the River Marecchia. It is an impressive work of architecture and one of the best preserved bridges from the Roman period. It was built entirely with stone from Istri. The bridge has five arches that exemplify the technical expertise of the Romans, who built the bridge without separating the foundations of the individual pillars thus creating a unique structure that is still being used to this day.
If you go down Via Bastioni Orientali from Arco d'Augusto flanking the medieval-Malatesta walls of the medieval city, you will come to the crossroads with Via Roma. This is where you will find one of Rimini's three great monuments. Probably erected during the 2nd Century CE, it was pillaged by the barbarians and damaged further by air raids in World War II. Now there are only a few remains of what used to be one of the largest amphitheatres in Emilia Romagna: the walls, one of the main entrances and some entrances to the balconies. The original shape was elliptical with an arena measuring 76x47 meters with 60 fornices. It could hold between 10,000-12,000 spectators without counting the ones in the supplementary wooden stands. The ring was used for Gladiator fights and fights between animals and men, the Romans' favorite. The public would help decide the fate of a defeated Gladiator by shouting either "missum" (free him) or giving the traditional thumbs down.
Founded in 301 CE, San Marino is Europe's oldest state and is also one of the smallest in the world as it covers only 61 square kilometers. In proportion to its size, it is also the most visited. Its narrow streets are lined with shops catering to the tourist, selling jewelry, knick-knacks and souvenirs. From its three towers (Rocca, Cesta and Montale) there is a wonderful view of the entire valley. There are many events worth attending in San Marino but especially enjoyable are the demonstrations put on by archers and flag-wavers during the "Medieval Days" at the end of July, and the Jazz festival at the start of the same month. However, there are shows, conventions and festivals throughout the year in San Marino.
The Palazzo Pubblico is also called the Government Palace (Palazzo del Governo) and it's the place where all San Marino's official cerimonies take place. It was built between the years of 1884 and 1894 by the Roman architect Francesco Azzurri, President of St. Luca Academy in Rome, in an interpretation of the expectations and tastes of his commissioners, designed the building in a simple and austere style. The palace hosts all of the official celebrations of State and it's home to major institutional and administrative organismis, such as the 'Captains,' the Great and General Council, the Council of Twelve and the State Congress.
Built in the Middle Ages, the majestic Fortress of San Leo is believed to be the exact location where, at the end of the first Millennium, Germanic rulers gave birth to the Holy Roman Empire. Located upon a large craggy rock above the village of San Leo, the massive fortification was designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini and seems to be an extension of the rock on which it stands-a unique work of both man and nature combined. Noted for its structure, the fort is divided into two distinct levels, at the top stands the impressive tower with an elongated shape while below two linked towers complement the building. The interior of the fort has decorative motifs such as cornices and corbels.