Marina di Rimini

Books & Publications, Maritime works, Projects

Marina di Rimini is a modern harbour, appreciated by the seamen for its services that meet the expectations of the Italian and foreign sailors, either local or just in transit. Marina di Rimini has a stretch of water of over 100,000 sq.m., and can offer hospitality to approximately 650 boats and assures a wide space for the mooring manoeuvres.

Thanks to an efficient system of barriers that encircle the Marina, whatever the weather conditions, when the sea is rough and the wind blows through the Adriatic, the elegant piers and wharves give protection from the troubles of backwash and the possibility to rest on board in complete tranquillity. There is also a system of forced recycle of waters that provides a complete change in only 72 hours.

The sinuous wharves and the architecture of the Marina recall the circles formed when you throw stones in a stretch of water. Far away the dam outside the harbour looks like a transposition of the ancient city walls, when they were still lapped by the sea.

The Saracen towers from where once upon a time the guards scanned the horizon fearing to see the sails of the enemies are now re-proposed in a modern style not only as a point of reference for the sailors to recognize the harbour but also as observation towers so the inhabitants can check the strength of the sea.

The new square of the harbour for concerts and shows recalls another historical landmark built just beside the sea as it was in roman times when hundreds of people used to come by ship. This new space is not ellipsoid as the ancient roman amphitheatre but round and can host five-six thousand people. There is also a fountain as an entrance door, symbol of hospitality and abundance.

It is really a “Rotonda sul mare” a rotunda by the sea, recalling the title of a famous Italian song: now it is a reality made of stones and bricks. The fountain is made with a pale stone like the one in the city centre so beautiful that even Leonardo da Vinci mentioned it in some documents.

But this new fountain in a romantic way is also like a shell in the sand… It is at the entrance of the Marina and is the starting point for sailing towards new destinations; for this reason we wanted to remind visitors as water flows around the world making vortexs and gurgles in our hemisphere clockwise in the opposite hemisphere anti-clockwise. This explains why the fountain has two small rivers going in the opposite way just like the world goes and like the people coming to visit the Marina. The small little waterfall is a concession that we wanted to give to the fantasy that characterizes the Marina.

The romantic overhead promenade that encircles the Marina, built with iron and wood, has nothing to envy the deck of a vessel of the last century. A wonderful restaurant recalls from the outside the old typical fishing houses that you can still notice on the other side of the canal.

The Marina is just like an old fortress protected these days by the new dam, with picturesque green luxuriant corners and a romantic soft illumination at night time that increases the charm of this place built on the sea for the sea.

Going east along the promenade it is like the prow of a ship ploughing the waters, and coming from the city it looks like if the masts of the sailing boats contribute to support the gangway that will connect in short time the Marina with the new complex of houses and shops.

Arch. Marino Bonizzato