Make Bellaria-Igea Marina your next stop when touring Italy’s magnificent Adriatic Sea coastline. Once a quiet fishing community, Bellaria-Igea Marina grew in popularity in the early 1900s and is now among the most-loved towns in the Emilia-Romagna region. The resort is two towns, Bellaria and Igea Marina, split by the Uso River. Enjoy Blue Flag beaches lined with beach clubs, swim in perfect-blue water and dabble in watersports such as sailing, scuba diving and windsurfing.
There’s plenty to see and do beside hanging out at the beaches. In Bellaria, visit the Saracen Tower, built to protect the area from pirate attacks. Tour the Casa Rossa, which was the summer residence of Italian novelist Alfredo Panzini and now houses exhibits related to his life and work. The tree-shaded promenade Isola dei Platani offers the chance to browse fashion outlets, catch a theater show and people-watch from café terraces.
Cross the river to Igea Marina and saunter around the chic commercial zones of Viale Ennio and Viale Ovidio. Parco del Gelso is the resort’s green lung and has a butterfly garden, sports fields and walking trails. Find more opportunities to appreciate the region’s greenery and wildlife on the Sentieri per l’Uso. This biking and walking route follows the banks of the River Uso.
A great time to visit the resort is in February for festivals that honor St. Apollonia and St. Valentine. The streets spring to life with handicraft fairs, food markets and fairground rides. Sample handmade pasta dishes and piadina, which is a flatbread filled with combinations of cheese, cold meats and vegetables. In May families turn their gardens into taverns while folkloric concerts take over the streets as part of the Borgata Che Danza festival.
Trains travel to Bellaria-Igea Marina from Bologna and Florence with connections in Rimini. It’s about a 40-minute walk between the centers of Bellaria and Igea Marina. Alternatively, catch the tourist train or rent a bike.
