There is an undiscovered side to the Rimini Riviera that few know about, and that is just waiting to be explored.
This itinerary is dedicated to those looking for a different experience, a unique adventure, where nature, sports and traditions intertwine in surprising ways.
Imagine being able to climb a cliff wall or sit on a giant bench and watch the sunset panorama that opens up on the surrounding hills. Or immerse yourself in the vibrations of Tibetan bells on a journey of inner relaxation and meditation.
Far from the nightlife of the beaches and the most popular routes, this unusual itinerary will let you experience a different soul of the Rimini Riviera from a different and fascinating perspective.
In Verucchio, history, traditions and culture blend with the beauty of a landscape that has made it, not surprisingly, one of the most beautiful little villages in Italy and earned it an Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club.
Almost everyone knows its roots, first Malatesta and then Villanovan, but few have explored its wilder soul that allows for splendid climbing.
The cliff wall is located just below the Verucchio Archaeological Museum and features at least 20 routes on limestone rock, with vertical walls that will put technique and strength to the test.
Accessible all year round, the ideal period for climbing is from April to October when the climate is perfect for enjoying the spectacular view of the Romagna hills.
Due to the structure and difficulty of the climbs, the wall is not suitable for beginners.
The next day, we leave Verucchio and go up the Marecchia river to Pennabilli, a delightful village at 629 meters above sea level.
Tuscany is close by, as is the Adriatic Sea. In this marvellous crossroads of lands, the air is clean, the view is magnificent, and just looking at the panorama from the Roccione is enough to feel a sense of peace. Perhaps this is why no one is surprised to find a Tibetan bell right here, in the middle of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. It is not at all in contrast with its surroundings; on the contrary, it is perfectly integrated with the landscape.
The history of this bell is very long; it dates back to about three centuries ago, and it was inaugurated in Pennabilli in 2005 by the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Next to it, three Tibetan prayer wheels welcome visitors for a moment of meditation and reflection.
The view is spectacular. Once you reach the top, you can spin the prayer wheels and send your intentions to Heaven, an enchanting experience and one of great fascination.
It is something truly unusual, a place where the major symbols of two different and important religions and cultures coexist in a unique atmosphere of friendship and peace.
From Valmarecchia, we move south and enter Valconca. We recommend arriving in Montefiore Conca at sunset, when the sun begins to paint the hills of the hinterland overlooking the sea.
This time, the experience will be to go back to seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
It is here that we find a huge bench - the Big Bench - surrounded by a green lawn, where you can admire gentle hills enveloped in nature.
And right opposite the Bench, the beautiful castle of Montefiore rises majestically.
The Big Benches are oversize furnishings that become iconic symbols of the place where they are installed and landmarks of locations with unique naturalistic features.
The Big Bench in Montefiore, the first in the Rimini area, is, therefore, the ideal place to sit as if at the cinema with friends or family, and admire the surrounding landscape while enjoying a pleasant and intense experience that allows you to relax and somehow rediscover the easy-going nature of childhood.
