Ceccarini Avenue

Address: Viale Ceccarini, 47838 Riccione (RN)
Maps: Open navigator
By car: A14 motorway, Riccione exit
By train: Riccione railway station, 5 minutes on foot
Parking: Underground car parks near piazzale Roma

Viale Ceccarini connects the historic centre (Riccione Paese) to the sea and is the iconic heart of the town. This is the promenade par excellence, the place where luxury shopping, local gastronomy, entertainment and cultural events all come together. This pedestrian boulevard is not just the city's elegant living room but also an ideal meeting point between tradition and modernity. Here, where elegance blends with the dynamism of contemporary life, new trends are born and new styles are created.

Roughly one kilometre long, the boulevard stretches from piazzale Roma, overlooking the seafront, to the Ceccarini Hospital, whose facade closes the view towards the hills. The heart of shopping and social life is concentrated in the pedestrian section between the sea and the railway, made car-free since the late 1970s. Here you also cross the two liveliest perpendicular streets in the centre, viale Dante and viale Gramsci, which further expand the range of shops, bars and restaurants.

The new Viale Ceccarini: the redevelopment

Viale Ceccarini is undergoing the most significant transformation in its recent history. The "Viva Riccione" project, a total investment of over 9 million euros, is redesigning the entire pedestrian axis, from the seafront to the railway, in three successive phases.

The first section (from the seafront to viale Milano), completed in summer 2025, introduced the "Urban Oasis": travertine paving with small 12×12 cm tiles in warm earth tones, new palm trees, contemporary urban furniture and the "Palo Ceccarini", an innovative scenic lamppost with sound diffusion and lighting effects. The second phase (from viale Milano to viale Dante) is underway and will introduce the "Forest Row" concept: an urban understorey of shrubs and flowers that enhances the existing historic pine trees. The third and final phase, from viale Dante to the railway, is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026, with the entire project expected to be completed by spring 2027.

The result will be a completely renewed boulevard, greener, more accessible and more sustainable: a tribute to early twentieth-century Riccione as a "garden city", projected into the future.

The history: from "Viola" to the Montenapoleone of the Adriatic

Few people know that Viale Ceccarini hasn't always been called that. Until 1912, this stretch was known as "Viola", from the Romagnol dialect word viul, meaning a narrow lane sunken between fields. Originally it was little more than a dusty path connecting the fishing village to the beach.

The current name pays tribute to Maria Boorman Wheeler Ceccarini (1840-1903), an Italian-American benefactress from New York, wife of the physician Giovanni Ceccarini. Maria financed the construction of the hospital (1892), the nursery school and the town's public lighting, playing a decisive role in Riccione's growth. On 11 October 1912, the Rimini Town Council named the boulevard after her. In 2012, on the centenary, a bronze statue in her honour was unveiled at number 107, the work of sculptor Leonardo Lucchi from Cesena.

With the arrival of seaside tourism between the two wars, the boulevard was rapidly transformed: in 1901 the first hotel opened (Hotel Amati), in 1926 the Teatro Dante was inaugurated and in 1927 the tramway from Rimini arrived. In the 1950s, during the dolce vita era, Viale Ceccarini gained its reputation as a fashionable boulevard. Between the 1960s and 1970s, the nickname "Montenapoleone of the Adriatic" cemented its prestige: an elegant salon within everyone's reach, where high-fashion labels coexist with Romagna's spontaneous spirit.

Fashion and designer shopping

Viale Ceccarini is famous for its high-fashion boutiques and designer shops, offering shopping enthusiasts a wide choice of clothing, accessories and jewellery from the finest international brands. Strolling along the boulevard means immersing yourself in a world of elegance and style, where every window display invites you to discover the latest fashion trends. The range goes from major international brands to single-brand commercial stores. To name just a few: Mango, Iceberg, Borbonese, Gaudenzi (a multi-brand boutique selling Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Versace, Valentino), Missoni, Ferretti.

Alongside the fashion names, the boulevard also hosts historic jewellers, designer shoe shops and design concept stores. Those who want to extend their shopping can continue along viale Dante, where more boutiques and clothing shops follow one after another.

Restaurants, cafés and gelaterias

The boulevard is dotted with restaurants, cafés and gelaterias. Some venues have outdoor seating with tables and sofas and, as well as satisfying the palate, offer a wonderful vantage point over the boulevard. Having an aperitivo, dining at one of Viale Ceccarini's restaurants or simply having a coffee at a bar becomes an enjoyable and memorable experience. For lunch and dinner you can eat at the Canasta restaurant-pizzeria or at Diana, while for an aperitivo, tea or coffee you can count on Blue b caffè and Sasà. Many culinary experiences are possible, all united by the same atmosphere: refined and glamorous, just like the boulevard they look out onto.

Bars and nightlife

In the evening, especially in summer, Viale Ceccarini becomes a meeting point for many young people. This is where the night begins: people meet up, have a drink or a bite together and then head on to the hillside clubs: Peter Pan Club, Cocoricò, Villa delle Rose. Viale Ceccarini is also home to Balena, one of the coolest spots of the moment, offering great food, excellent drinks and DJ sets in a beautifully designed setting. Refined design and signature cocktails can also be found at Venticinque Riccione, a trendy lounge bar just steps from Viale Ceccarini, in piazzale XXV Aprile.

Cultural events and shows

The boulevard hosts cultural events, art exhibitions, concerts and festivals all year round, enriching Riccione's tourist offering. The Piazzetta degli Eventi, located along the boulevard, and the Palazzo dei Congressi transform Viale Ceccarini into an open-air stage where art and culture meet for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. During the Christmas period, the boulevard is transformed into a spectacular Christmas village with illuminations, markets and scenic installations, proving that Riccione is not just a summer destination.

Viale Ceccarini with children

Viale Ceccarini is also a welcoming place for families with children, offering several shops and activities tailored to families. On Viale Ceccarini and in the surrounding streets you'll find many children's clothing shops, such as Gaudenzi Kids, Abitini, Upim, DOUUOD Kids, Adelaide Junior. The boulevard is pleasant even for those who don't want to buy anything: Viale Ceccarini is safe for a stroll with children at any time of day or evening and is easy to navigate with a pushchair. Along the boulevard you'll also find bars and gelaterias for a tasty snack break.

Practical Information

How to get there: Viale Ceccarini is reachable on foot in just a few minutes from Riccione railway station: simply exit and walk along the boulevard towards the sea. For those arriving by car, there are underground car parks near piazzale Roma on the seafront. In summer, from the beach, it's just a short walk up towards the centre.