Viale Ceccarini was originally called
“viola" (narrow street), a charming street which connected the old village (the current Riccione-Paese) with the sea. On October 11,
1912, the
Municipality
of
Rimini, which included the small village of Riccione too, decided to call it “
Viale Maria Ceccarini”, in order to celebrate the historical benefactress of the Green Pearl.
It was enlarged and paved in 1925, and provided with a sewage system and a proper roadbed in 1926, so as to avoid dust formation. On the following year 110
pines (Pinus-Pinea) were planted in order to shade the avenue.
Both the city and the avenue have continuously developed until Riccione became the most important
tourist destination both in Italy and abroad and Viale Ceccarini turned into the heart of city life. One of the first
VIPs to visit the avenue was
Benito Mussolini in the 30s; after World War II the city started attracting large numbers of elite tourists and finally turned into the so-called “
Montenapoleone” of the Adriatic Sea (1960/70).
Since the 70s, the avenue has became a popular
pedestrian precinct. The most representative landmark of the city, it is even the venue for the famous Conference Building. Today, Riccione and Viale Ceccarini are the undisputed symbol of utmost
fashion.
