At Easter, Rimini opens the season. Paganello, the international frisbee tournament, takes place on Marina Centro beach; the Artigiani al Centro market fair returns to Piazza Tre Martiri; on Easter Monday, the Somar Lungo bike ride climbs the Covignano hills. Municipal museums remain open on Easter Monday too, and coastal theme parks reopen. In 2027, Easter falls on 28 March and Easter Monday on 29 March. The Comune publishes the town programme in the two weeks before the holiday: in 2026, it appeared on 30 March for Easter on 5 April.
Events returning every Easter
| Event | When | Location | Documented editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paganello, international beach ultimate (frisbee) tournament | Easter weekend, Saturday to Easter Monday, with finals on Monday | Marina Centro beach | 2022 (16-18 April), 2026 (4-6 April) |
| Good Friday Via Crucis | Good Friday evening | in 2026, from Arena Francesca da Rimini to Tempio Malatestiano | 2025 (18 April), 2026 (3 April) |
| Artigiani al Centro, crafts market fair | Easter Sunday and Easter Monday | Piazza Tre Martiri | 2022 (17-18 April), 2026 (5-6 April) |
| Somar Lungo, bike ride | Easter Monday morning | from Marina Centro to Santuario delle Grazie, in Covignano | 2022 (18 April), 2026 (6 April) |
Paganello is free for spectators and brings teams from around the world onto the sand: the Comune calls it the ritual marking the start of Rimini's Easter holidays. Somar Lungo combines cycling with local history stories and ends with a social gathering at the sanctuary.
In 2026, the observation wheel on Piazzale Boscovich, at the harbour, also reopened on Easter Saturday. Other events throughout the year are in events in Rimini.
Museums and churches on Easter Sunday and Monday
Museo della Città and Domus del Chirurgo open Tuesday to Sunday and on all public holidays; they close only on non-holiday Mondays. Easter Monday is a public holiday, so the museums remain open on both Easter Sunday and Monday. The same calendar applies to Fellini Museum, between Castel Sismondo and Palazzo del Fulgor.
Tempio Malatestiano is Rimini's cathedral and preserves Giotto's Crucifix. During Holy Week, it is the church for the bishop's celebrations, and the Good Friday Via Crucis ends here.
A day on foot from the centre to the sea
The historic centre can be crossed on foot in a few hours. From Arco di Augusto, the route passes Piazza Tre Martiri, occupied by craftspeople over Easter, and reaches Tempio Malatestiano; then Piazza Cavour, Castel Sismondo and Ponte di Tiberio. Borgo San Giuliano begins beyond the bridge, and the canal harbour leads to Marina Centro, where Paganello takes place.
Parks reopening at Easter
Each year at Easter, the coastal theme parks reopen: in Rimini, Italia in Miniatura in Viserba and Fiabilandia in Rivazzurra; a little further south, Oltremare in Riccione and Acquario di Cattolica. Comune di Rimini announces them together in its Easter programme, in 2022 as in 2026.
Easter Monday in the hills and villages
Somar Lungo points to the nearest excursion: the Covignano hills behind the city, with Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie and Museo degli Sguardi. Further inland are Santarcangelo di Romagna and Montebello, with Castello di Azzurrina and its guided visits. Other destinations are gathered in excursions from Rimini.
Easter in other Riviera resorts
In Cattolica, the Comune organises “Pasqua a Cattolica. Gusto di vivere”, three days from Saturday to Easter Monday: the first edition was in 2025 (19-21 April), the second in 2026 (4-6 April). Other events are in events in Cattolica.
In Misano Adriatico, Easter opens with Mercatino di Primavera on Via della Repubblica, Saturday to Monday, with local crafts and traditional products: from 30 March to 1 April in 2024, and 19 to 21 April in 2025. The full calendar is in events in Misano Adriatico.
Sources: Comune di Rimini, Easter news of 15 April 2022 and 30 March 2026; Musei comunali di Rimini, “Orari” page; Diocesi di Rimini, bishop's engagements (2025); official Paganello website, “History” page; Comune di Cattolica, news of 4 April 2026, and Cattolica Welcome portal (2025); visitmisano.it, Easter 2024 and 2025 programmes; accessed on 10 October 2026.