Rimini's City Museum is an extraordinary gem that is much more than a little local history or a dusty little place, though the name might conjure such images. Opened in 1977, it is housed in an amazing former Jesuit monastery and additional buildings added over the years. In total, the whole building covers more than 3,000 square meters and consists of some 40 galleries, as well as areas dedicated to special archeological exhibitions. Both an archaeological museum and art gallery, it has incredible old objects that tell the history of the city, as well as a rich picture gallery that is spread over two floors, encompasses works from the 15th to the 20th century and boasts works by famous Renaissance names such as Giovanni Bellini, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Simone Cantarini, Giovanni Battista Costa, and Guido Cagnacci. Costing less than ten euro to enter, it is both an excellent cultural gem and quite the bargain. As such, it is a key attraction to pencil in to any trip once you have found a vacation rental in Rimini.
When you enter the museum, you will discover an exhibition about Renè Gruau, a famous contemporary fashion designer from Rimini, who passed away in 2004. Then, in the garden-courtyard there is a Roman Lapidary, which contains an epigraphic collection of about one hundred Roman inscriptions. There is also an area dedicated to Federico Fellini, with his “Libro dei sogni” (Book of Dreams), a book in which he sketched dreams, ideas, characters, and scenarios for his movies from the 60s to the 90s.
The archeological section of the museum, meanwhile, is home to findings from the most important archeological sites in Rimini, including the Roman Amphitheater and Domus del Chirurgo (Surgeon's House) and the museum even organises tours to and of these sites. In the basement there is an exhibition on the story of Rimini, from prehistory to the end of Late Antiquity, continuing onto the ground floor of the museum with Imperial Rimini between the II and III century, mosaics from the domus Diotallevi palace, sculptures, ceramics, plaster decorations, coins, glass items, bronzes, and surgical instruments from the Surgeon's House.
On the first and second floors house, you will find the Pinacoteca picture gallery and pieces like the works commissioned by the famous Malatesta family, Giovanni Bellini's famous Pietà, the Pala by Domenico Ghirlandaio, sculptures, illuminated codices and the works of other famous artists including Guido Cagnacci, Il Centino, Il Guercino, Simone Cantarini and Giovan Battista Costa.
Illustrating various, fascinating aspects of the history and culture of Rimini, this is a very special local museum in Italy.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 1pm
Thursday to Sunday 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Holidays 10am - 7.30pm
Closed on Mondays
Open during Easter, Christmas and Ferragosto
Tickets:
Full fee €7.00
Reduced rate €5.00
Free every Wednesday and the first Sunday of every month
Rimini City Museum
1, Via L. Tonini, 47900, Rimini, Italy
The archeological section of the museum, meanwhile, is home to findings from the most important archeological sites in Rimini, including the Roman Amphitheater and Domus del Chirurgo (Surgeon's House) and the museum even organises tours to and of these sites. In the basement there is an exhibition on the story of Rimini, from prehistory to the end of Late Antiquity, continuing onto the ground floor of the museum with Imperial Rimini between the II and III century, mosaics from the domus Diotallevi palace, sculptures, ceramics, plaster decorations, coins, glass items, bronzes, and surgical instruments from the Surgeon's House.
On the first and second floors house, you will find the Pinacoteca picture gallery and pieces like the works commissioned by the famous Malatesta family, Giovanni Bellini's famous Pietà, the Pala by Domenico Ghirlandaio, sculptures, illuminated codices and the works of other famous artists including Guido Cagnacci, Il Centino, Il Guercino, Simone Cantarini and Giovan Battista Costa.
Illustrating various, fascinating aspects of the history and culture of Rimini, this is a very special local museum in Italy.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday and Wednesday 10am – 1pm
Thursday to Sunday 4.30pm - 7.30pm
Holidays 10am - 7.30pm
Closed on Mondays
Open during Easter, Christmas and Ferragosto
Tickets:
Full fee €7.00
Reduced rate €5.00
Free every Wednesday and the first Sunday of every month
Rimini City Museum
1, Via L. Tonini, 47900, Rimini, Italy
Photo credit: JoJan / CC BY-SA 4.0