by Andrew G » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:08 pm
Riccione good, Catollica a few kms down the cost and a pleasant small town for a coffee, Rimini nice and just up the coast a handful of kms, Bologna a 1hr train ride. Good, and cheap, train service from Riccione station.
The only thing I would say is that Riccione is very much a cycling or beach holiday destination. If you're cycling it's great. If you just want to lay on a beach it has a big one. It did seem that it could be a bit naff seaside at certain times of year though. I think Milan decamps there, smears themselves in Mazola and lays on the beach for 10 hours a day in July/August. It would be a nightmare then. The town itself is quite nice but not that big (fishing port and the seafood is fantastic). That said a bike/beach morning and a trip somewhere else in the afternoon (train or hire a car/scooter) and you probably couldn't go far wrong.
Cycling hotel so you'd get organised rides with a guide if you wanted at the Perla. There are loads of other "Riccione Bike Hotels" but Perla is very good and run by the bloke who started and runs the franchise, others may not be up to the same standard. May is when the Novi Colli sportive is on though (up the coast a bit at Cessanatico which is also quite a nice little town and where Pantani was from) so you may have to act quick to see if there are and places left at the hotel. The Giro is also nearby for a TT and road stage so again certain bits of May could be booked out.
It gets bloody hot 30-35 and unshielded sun so make sure you take your own sun cream as the local chemists only seem to cater for ya Italian skin type and I hardly saw a lotion with a factor in double figures!