GIMME RIMINI

Lesser known to British travellers, Rimini and its Adriatic coastline are now much more accessible for a short break. By JORDAN REYNOLDS

- JORDAN REYNOLDS

CYCLING along a path fringing the Adriatic Sea, I pass families entering a play park and older couples walking hand in hand. The pedestrianised "park of the sea" is a quiet spot for a morning stroll, but it also turns into a lively destination after dark.

What once was a road and car park is now a path curved like the waves of the sea which will stretch to 15km when construction is finished next year.

Rimini, a city in northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, has long been a favourite coastal resort for Italians. Some families have been choosing the same beach spots for decades, my tour guide Monia Magalotti says.

Now it's much easier to reach the destination from the UK with the launch of new British Airways direct flights from Heathrow.

About 150 beach clubs line the path, along with restaurants, parks, gyms and more.

But after leaving the path then cycling for about 10 minutes, I'm surrounded by a mix of brightly coloured quaint buildings that could have jumped out of a fairytale. This is traditional fishing village Borgo San Giuliano, a popular area for restaurants, with tables overlooking the river.