The Italian Adriatic Coast is a goldmine for culture. The north eastern area's known to attract swathes of visitors in the summer months to it's broad sandy beaches - you know it's a good choice when it's where the Italians head for their summer holidays. The sandy beaches are dotted with pastel coloured parasols and are perfect if you're bringing the kids along, because they're mostly flat with lots of shallow bathing spots to splash about in.
Rimini's probably the best know resort, offering much more than just a party scene, the old town's packed with history - Renaissance palazzos and Roman ruins. Riccione's one of Italy's original seaside resorts, just south of Rimini and if you're after somewhere close to the action but a little quieter, Cattolica's the perfect place - not far from Monte San Bartol nature reserve, which has some lovely walking trails.
You can't wrong with the food here - Emilia Romagna's famed for it's cuisine and there are plenty of top restaurant's about. There's loads of beach bars, clubs and cafes too - so when you've had you fix of lounging in the sun, head for an afternoon Aperol spritz. It's not just about the beach though - why not head inland to the hills? You'll find quiet medieval hamlets and fortified towns and villages. There's great train links from Rimini so you could even visit Bologna or Florence from here.
