... It is much smaller than Rimini, but much more stylish in my opinion. Its not perfect, because it is a tourist destination. You will find just as many Italians there, as you will Germans and other scandinavian nationalities. The Italians take their annual holiday in August, and Cattolica is ... Read review
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Advantages: Sun, sea, sand, food and love! Disadvantages: None for me
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You can fly to Rimini quite cheaply using Ryanair. I don't know whether the Adriatic Riviera is featured anymore in holiday brochures, but the best way would be to book a cheap flight and book accommodation on the net. There are plenty of websites for this town to help you plan your visit. Its a great place for lovers, families, teenagers - everyone!
This review is going to be very passionate as I have been to Cattolica many times and I am also part Italian and my love for this small town will always stay with me.
I first visited Cattolica when I was 14 (many moons ago) and it made a very big impression on me. I didn't have much confidence as a schoolgirl, but my friend and I were paid alot of attention, and we had the time of our lives (as much as you can in the company of parents!). We were allowed to go to nightclubs occasionally as they are so safe and friendly. But the biggest attraction for me is the food. This area (Emiligia Romagna) is the is the home of pizza, pasta and ice-cream and they do all 3 perfectly. If I could find a diet that consisted of these 3 things, I would be so happy! Another speciality here is the Piadina - like a tortilla usually filled with ham and cheese.
Cattolica is a very pretty seaside town with a marina. It has a wonderful beach which consistently gets awarded for its cleanliness (blue flag I think). It is much smaller than Rimini, but much more stylish in my opinion. Its not perfect, because it is a tourist destination. You will find just as many Italians there, as you will Germans and other scandinavian nationalities. The Italians take their annual holiday in August, and Cattolica is very popular with them. I take this as a good sign, as you know you are going to go somewhere with some level of authenticity. There are hundreds of hotels and apartments and sadly they do cater to some British tastes in the cafes....serving fry-ups and chips and even some German food. Whenever I go on holiday I want to live and eat locally. "When in Rome" as they say! Ignoring the tourist traps you can find some fantastic little restaurants with live music and the friendliest people you will ever meet. My favourite restaurant is called Bella Italia and my mouth just salivates thinking of the pizza they serve in there - thin, thin, thin with exquisite toppings. They have fab live music, and its always packed. One year they twisted my arm into singing with the band. It was the most nervewracking experience of my life and I have the photos to prove it! I am no singer, but I can hold an ok tune.
The nightlife is fantastic. The evenings revolve around the main square - Primo Piazza Maggio, with its fountains and pretty gardens. Everyone dresses up in their finery and walk up and down the streets (passiagiata), people watching and shopping. I like to sit at a bar near the square, watching the world go by until the early hours. The last time I visited was in 1997 with my Mother. It was a girly holiday and I haven't been back since. I lost my Mother to cancer 4 years ago, and I cannot bring myself to go back, but I cherish the memories of this town. We used to love going "bopping" in the discos, shopping for the latest fashions and eating mounds of parma ham and melon at lunchtime, followed by ice-cream from the gelaterias. Cattolica has some great boutiques. It is the home of Alberta Ferretti, and yes I have one item from her shop - which cost my Mum an arm and a leg, but I will keep it forever! Shoe shops are also in abundance and you can find beautiful leather shoes, never to be found in the UK.
In the day, you can while away your time on the beach - there are several free beaches where you can lay on a towel and wait for the guy with coconut to come along, or you can go to the fantastic indoor market which had been completely refurbished the last time I went. You can try everything before you buy, and the produce is so fresh and inviting. There is a little train that takes you all around the town and marina (it drives through the streets) and also stops at the Dolphinarium. You can get a season ticket at local tourist/travel shops.
This review has become somewhat erratic as my mind keeps drifting off to different memories!
Other places that are well worth visiting are Riccione (bigger and even more stylish version of Cattolica), Gradara (medieval village), and the Republic of San Marino (an amazing place steeped in history, tax free and home to the Grand Prix). Venice is not too far either and worth a day trip - just don't go in the height of summer. I love Venice with a passion too, and the next time I go I will write about it here.
I don't know why Cattolica is so special to me, but the people there definitely contributed to my holidays. They are so genuine and friendly, and if you try and speak some Italian, they love you even more. I made many friends, and even after long gaps I was recognised and welcomed once more. I don't like to revisit places but this is one place I loved going back to in my younger years. I just hope one day I can go back, show my husband and children, and they will see some of the magic I saw.
You can fly to Rimini quite cheaply using Ryanair. I don't know whether the Adriatic Riviera is featured anymore in holiday brochures, but the best way would be to book a cheap flight and book accommodation on the net. There are plenty of websites for this town to help you plan your visit. Its a great place for lovers, families, teenagers - everyone!
Advantages: Price, Beach, Facilities for children, Shopping Disadvantages: Paying on the beach, Mainly German tourists,
...cross or anything. Now Rimini may have a reputation as being the "Benidorm" of Italy but believe me it has so much more to offer. We stayed in the resort of Torre Pedrera which was about 1km up the beach from Rimini centre, and it was perfect - busy but very friendly and personal. The beach (10km long) was spotless and all the usual water attractions were available. What made it excellent for children was the fact that along the whole of the beach ... ...and down the front. Rimini old town itself is a charming place, with clothing especially cheap in the boutiques around the square. A market on Saturdays is extremely popular with leather very affordable.
Away from Rimini itself we visited Mirabilandia, a theme park situated in Ravenna about 20km north, which again was good value. It housed the largest ferris wheel in Europe until the London eye was built, but that I would not recommend.
A few downsides ...
TonyRavioli 11.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Rimini (Italy)
Advantages: FOR ALL THE FAMILY Disadvantages: NONE
TEN MILES SOUTH OF RIMMINI IS THE TOWN OF CATTOLICA,AND BOY WHAT A PLACE,MY WIEF AND I WENT TO CATTOLICA LAST YEAR (JULY 2000) AND WAS OUR FIRST TRIP TO ITALY.WE COULD NOT BELEIVE HOW HELPFULL THE LOCAL PEOPLE WERE,NOT THE TYPE WHO TRY TO RIP TOURISTS OFF,BUT GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP YOU.NOW IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN THEN THEY WILL LOVE THIS PLACE,SHALLOW WATER,GOOD BEACH ENTERTAINMENT ALL ALONG THE FRONT.MOST HOTELS HAVE SWIMMING POOLS,LOTS OF SHOPS,AND ... ...INFACT WE FOR THE FIRST TIME CAME BACK WITH MONEY NOT SPENT.
DURING THE DAY THE TOWN IS FAIRLY QUITE AS TOURISTS GO TO PLACES LIKE VENICE(3 hours by coach)AND ROME,THIS IS THE TIME TO HIT THE BEACH ITS NICE AND QUITE,BUT AT THE WEEKENDS YOU MAY HAVE TROUBLE TO SEE A GRAIN OF SAND.DURING THE EVENING THIS PLACE COMES TO LIFE, PEOPLE SEEM TO COME FROM EVERY NOOK AND CRANNI,THERE IS DANCING ON THE FRONT HOTEL LAWNS,IN THE BARS,AND CLUBS,DURING OUR STAY ...
garybaldi 10.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Rimini (Italy)
Advantages: cheap, fun and exciting Disadvantages: beach sellers
...in Italy and we chose Rimini for two weeks. We didn't really know what to expect, but we were just going to enjoy ourselves. I found Hotel Due Torri online and proceeded to contact the hotel by phone and get the flights separate! When we arrived everything seemed so relaxed! The beach was just across the road from us and it was so clean. there was a multitude of bars and restaurants to choose from and most important, ice cream shops! The ice cream ... ...go their nightclub. they were very friendly! The nightclubs were very lively and loads of people from all round came. Rimini is also a great base to saty at if you want to visit other places for day trips, like the Republic of San Marino, which should not be missed! ...
AngelicaG 27.08.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Rimini (Italy)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Advantages: GREAT LOCATION NEAR THE BEACH Disadvantages: RIMINI
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Advantages: Just a small sighseeing Disadvantages: hope no one!
About the beach itself, I can only say that I paid 120.00 euros to have a sun-umbrella and a bed for 13 days: this price is higher than in the Rivieras of Romagna and Marche, but the beach is very large and not so crowded as in places like Rimini, while the water is quite clean.
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