Rimini, Italy

Rimini, on Italy's Adriatic coast, is probably best-known as one of Europe's biggest beach resorts.  With miles of sandy beach, it welcomes visitors in their thousands over the summer months.  Yet there is much more to this city than sun, sea and sand.  Rimini is a historic city which dates from Roman times, being founded in 268 BC.  The coastal strip is dominated by modern hotels, bars and restaurants catering to holidaymakers.   By contrast the city centre, a kilometre or two from the coastline, contains plenty of historic buildings.

A network of local bus services operates around the city, radiating from a hub at the railway station.  More information (in Italian only) can be found here.  The bus fleet comprises mainly single-deckers, of various sizes.  Some carry a blue and white livery with waves reflecting Rimini's seaside location:

 

Others carry orange or orange and white liveries:

 

 

 

Articulated buses operate on some services:

 

Line 11, which serves the main coastal strip, is particularly interesting.  It is electrified for trolleybus operation. 

 

Trolleybuses are capable of operating away from the wires, using auxiliary power.  This image shows one doing just that, at the city centre end of line 11:

However, with only 5 in the fleet, there are insufficient trolleybuses to cover the full service.  Diesel-powered articulated buses therefore run alongside the trolleybuses while, during my visit in May 2012, the evening services were entirely diesel-powered.

 

Coach-type vehicles operate interurban services, branded as Ferrovie Emilia Romagna (Italian Railways, Emilia Romagna region):

Rimini is also the terminus for the main bus service into the independent republic of San Marino, less than 20 kilometres away.  Buses run every 75 minutes from opposite the main railway station.  During the high summer months, they also pick up in the coastal strip.  The summer timetable is here while the timetable for the rest of the year is here.