http://www.italy4real.com/escorted_13day.php
I like to have late departures for the group because it lets everybody sleep in or go out in the AM and find that last special photograph or souvenir. I set bag call for 9:30 and we depart from the hotel at 10 am sharp. Everyone has breakfast and some great Italian "cafe con latte" (coffee and hot milk) and some great pastries. As we make our way from the hotel, conversations of free time, wonderful restaurants found and amazing museums are the walking talk of the morning.
Our coach is freshly washed and Arone our driver is ready and waiting suit and tie perfect. The luggage has already arrived to the coach and everybody boards for the 3 hour drive to Rimini.
Back in the 1990's when my mother and I decided to open Italy 4 Real we wanted our signature tour to be unique.
These are the things we DID NOT want in our tour
1. Too many people on the tour, wanted it to be small under 17
2. In one day and out the next, you feel more tired after your vacation then before you started.
3. Same boring Italy route.. Venice, Florence and Rome
Things we WANT in our tour
1. Off the beaten path locations
2. Focus on the "real" Italy while visiting the big cities
3. Max 16 people so we can get in great small hotels and restaurants
4. Unique visits to unique places
5. Great food
So when we lived in Italy and were planning the route, Rimini was and still is not found on any itinerary. I believe that Rimini and its Med coastline represent the real "Italian Riviera." When I think of Riviera, I think of sandy beaches, parasols, and avenues of shops. The "Official" Italian riviera is over on the west coast of the country which is rocky, like the Oregon coastline or Big Sir. The east coast is flat as far as the eye can see, full of beach, shops, people and fun.
Another BIG reason that we go to Rimini is San Marino. When Napoleon was conquering through Europe he offered sovereignty to Saint Marino. From that point on San Marino was an independent republic; completely separate from Italy and Europe; much like Vatican City or Liechtenstein.
San Marino has its own border patrol and crossing, currency (now the Euro, San Marino money is collector item) and government.
Back on the coach the clients are settled in. The flat land of the Veneto region passes by. We head toward Bologna where the roads intersects and travels east toward the coast.
Travel Tip If you are planning to drive from the Northeast part of Italy to anywhere below Bologna, try and make your travel day during the week and not on a weekend. The Autostrada (http://www.autostrade.it/en/index.html); Italy's major highway system intersects at Bologna and the weekend is when everyone travels down south to Umbria, Tuscany and cities like Florence, the road can be a traffic jam that lasts all day long in the high season months.
Just past Bologna we stop for lunch on the Autostrata. Italy's highway system is quite amazing because it is tolled and they put every cent back into the road and services on it. The Autostrada has some of the best road food found anywhere. Fresh carved roast beef, salmon grilled to order, pasta with fresh sauce made right in front of your eyes; the Autostrada is a feast with clean bathrooms, fine wines, cheeses, cd's, DVD's and great espresso.
After a good lunch, stretch of the legs and a good strong shot of coffee we continue toward Rimini. We arrive to Rimini and take a quick orientation tour of the area in our coach. The beach on one side of the stret, hotels and shops on the other. People are crossing back and forth from their rented chairs and umbrellas to their hotel. The dance of the beach goers is preformed each sunny day like clockwork.
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