Hello, Me and me wife are staying in Bologna in October...I have heard that Rimini is a great day trip (with Italy in Miniature Park) does anyone have any advice on this area....thanks,Mikek

There are places in the area I'd go to in preference - Urbino, Ravenna, Ferrara, Parma. I guess it depends how long you're in Bologna, what else you have planned, and what kind of things uyou like to do. Rimini's quite nice, though (I don't know the miniature park so can't comment on that).

Hi Mikek, although I knew Rimini is known for it's beaches (the longest in Italy I believe) I had not heard of this park. Out of curiosity I Googled it. Wow! It looks like fun and it is fairly new.

The website is http://www.italiainminiatura.com

Can you read Italian at all? There is not an English translation.

In case you can't you would drive on the A-14 Autostrada from Bologna right to Rimini (which would be on your left, the Adriatic Sea side). In October the hours are from 9:00am to Sunset and they are open daily. Looks like the admission is around 6€ to 12€ per person, depending on weekdays or weekends etc.

This park really looks like fantastic as well as educational. I will have to talk some friends in Italy to go there when I am in Italy next year.

The things you learn thanks to Fodorites!! Do let us know how you enjoyed it after you return home and get settled in. Enjoy all that wonderful food in Bologna also!!

We have driven past the Italia in Miniatura park but did not stop there. My impression was that it was mainly a kids/family attraction. Not saying that to dissuade you, just expect a lot of little ones.

ttt for Mikek.

Thanks all for the responses...actually Rimini was our last stop regarding day trips around Bologna, we will definitely see Parma, and Ravenna, what about San Marino...does anyone think that is worth a stop?...again thank you...and yes, we will advise after spending a half day in "Italy in Miniature"....regards, Mikek

San Marino is very picturesque. I really enjoyed it because it is perched high on a hilltop so there are great views and the hilliness provides a nice contrast to the flatness of Emilia-Romagna. It's also kind of neat to see cars with SM license plates, to see the govt buildings, etc. It is extremely touristy, however - there are souvenir shops and stands everywhere and it has a bit of a theme park atmosphere. I would recommend it for a couple of hours though, it is a very pretty town and I really enjoyed it.

Rimini has a lot of situation that worth visit, in October Italia in Miniatura will be open only in the weekends, just at few minutes from Rimini you can find a new theme park called Oltremare http://www.oltremare.org , if you go north you can find Mirabilandia another famous Italian Theme Park. In Rimini you can also find good food (specially fish based dish), an of course Hotels. I can suggest you, if you plan to stay more than a day, to check for Hotels at this web site http://www.iperhotel.com . It's a complete web site with all the information about the Hotels on the Adriatic coast.

We stayed in Rimini for a week in late September after hiking in Germany the prior week. This was about 10 years ago. The city sits right on the water and is picturesque, but in September, when we were there, it was pretty deserted. Sort of reminded me of the New Jersey shore in November. Many places were closed for the winter and it is very touristy. While we were there, we drove up to San Marino which was terrific - very scenic and very different. In October, I would skip Rimini and go to San Marino