Italia in Miniatura explained
Italia in Miniatura is a miniature park in Viserba, a of Rimini in the region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy.[1]
Opened on 4 July 1970,[2] Italia in Miniatura is Italy's fourth-oldest theme park, and attracts 500,000 visitors per year.[3] It features 273 polyurethane models over an outdoor area of 85000m2. As well as Italian monuments, the models include European landmarks and geographic features such as mountains and volcanoes. A 1:5 reproduction of 119 buildings in Venice can be traversed with a gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Other attractions include a driving school, a suspended monorail, interactive spaces dedicated to science education, a parrot aviary, hot air balloons, a log flume, and a Pinocchio-themed train ride.
The park is located on the state road between Rimini and Ravenna,[4] [5] on the ancient Via Popilia.[6] It occasionally hosts evenings with late closing hours in the summer.[7] [8] The park is owned by Costa Edutainment SpA,[9] [10] who also own the Aquarium of Cattolica and the water park in Riccione.[11]
History
The miniature park was founded by Ivo Rambaldi, a plumber from Ravenna. After visiting, a miniature park near Lugano, Switzerland,[12] in 1968, Rambaldi was inspired to create an Italian counterpart; he documented his visit on film and began working on the park in his home garage with Sergio Fabbri, his brother-in-law and a modelmaker, and Paolo, his son and a student at an institute of surveyors. Rambaldi travelled 27000km (17,000miles) to visit and measure monuments, taking over 6,200 photographs.[13] The first models were monuments from Ravenna: Tomb of Dante, the Capanno Garibaldi, and Sant'Apollinare in Classe, which Rambaldi modelled five times. As the project grew, the workshop moved to a warehouse of Rambaldi's elder brother, Anselmo, and reached sixteen craftsmen. The partners decided to site the park in Viserba for its convenience to the state road, having previously considered sites near the SS72 state road to San Marino and a site adjacent to the Misano World Circuit. The park cost 300 million lire to build.
Italia in Miniatura opened on 4 July 1970;[14] [15] its inauguration was notable for its rain. It was the fourth theme park to open in Italy after Perugia's, Naples' (1965), and (1966), also in Rimini. Local residents saw the attraction as part of the 1960s Americanisation of the seaside resort.[16] At the time of its inauguration, it numbered between 49 and 61 models, many of monuments from Emilia-Romagna, over an outdoor area of 20000m2.
In May 2012, a Sammarinese association suggested that the park could move to a 300000m2 state-owned agricultural area in Cinque Vie, citing the park's continued threat to relocate from Viserba given its difficulties in acquiring adjacent land.[17]
In March 2014, Costa Edutainment SpA rented the park from the Rambaldi family, with the option to purchase the park after two years, in a deal valued at between and . Costa had already acquired the Aquarium of Cattolica in 2000 and in Riccione in 2013.[18] [19] On 15 April 2015, the previous management company was declared bankrupt after accumulating liabilites exceeding . Its directors were investigated by the Guardia di Finanza for diverting over away from creditors,[20] and were acquitted by the Court of Forlì on 24 April 2019.[21]
The park was renovated between 2018 and 2021, at a cost of, featuring new attractions Esperimenta, Pinocchio and Pappamondo,[22] and a new entrance with fountains and a statue of a child that is 10m (30feet) tall.[23]
On 6 August 2021, to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, the park offered free entry to 1,000 Riminese residents. Among its guests were Stefano Bonaccini, President of Emilia-Romagna, senators and Sergio Romagnoli, poet Beppe Costa, and media personalities and Kleidi Kadiu.[24]
Features
The park's grounds include 10,000 plants, half of which are real miniature trees. Its canals are filled with 2500m2 of water. Eighteen model trains operate in the park.[25]
Italia in Miniatura features three restaurants and several kiosks for snacks and ice creams, as well as a picnic area.[26]
Models
The park consists of 273 miniatures over an outdoor area of 85000m2. Most of the models are of scale 1:25 (like Sant'Apollinare in Classe), 1:33 (like Pisa's Piazza dei Miracoli), and 1:50 (like Milan Cathedral). The models are made of polyurethane, which is resistant to the weather. The models are decorated with figurines of people. While most models are of Italian landmarks, a European section includes models from European capitals. Natural features including rivers, waterfalls, and volcanoes are also modelled.Among notable models, the park features a 1:5 reproduction of 119 buildings in Venice, with a surface area of 6600m2. St Mark's Campanile reaches a height of 20m (70feet). Visitors can ride a gondola through the reproduction of the Grand Canal, with an audio guide from Giacomo Casanova. The Venetian sector took nine years to construct.
Cannonacqua is a 1:3 reproduction of Rimini's Castel Sismondo. The castle occupies 1600m2, its towers reaching a height of 7m (23feet), and is equipped with 32 water cannons.
Buttons animate some scenes, such as a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida at the Verona Arena, a fire in Porto Marghera, and the opening of the Ponte Girevole swingbridge.
List of modelled landmarks by region!Region!LandmarksAosta Valley | Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Aosta: Arch of Augustus,[27] Fénis: Fénis Castle |
Apulia | Alberobello: Trulli, Andria: Castel del Monte, Bari: Bari Cathedral, Taranto: Ponte Girevole,[28] Trani: Trani Cathedral |
Campania | Caserta: Reggia di Caserta,[29] Paestum: Second Temple of Hera |
Emilia-Romagna | Bologna: Towers of Bologna,[30] Busseto: Villa Verdi, Codigoro: Pomposa Abbey, Ravenna: Capanno Garibaldi, Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Tomb of Dante, Reggio Emilia: Sala del Tricolore, Rimini: Arch of Augustus, Castel Sismondo, San Leo: Forte di San Leo, Ferrara: Castello Estense, Palazzo Municipale |
Europe | Athens: Acropolis, Lisbon: Belém Tower, Paris: Trocadéro |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste: Trieste Cathedral |
Lazio | Rome: Colosseum, St Peter's Basilica |
Liguria | Genoa:, Aquarium of Genoa |
Lombardy | Milan: Castello Sforzesco, Milan Cathedral, Pirelli Tower[31] |
Piedmont | Arona: Sancarlone, Turin: Mole Antonelliana |
Sardinia | Nuraghe of Sardinia |
Sicily | Agrigento: Temple of Juno, Catania: Castello Ursino |
South Tyrol | Tre Cime di Lavaredo |
Tuscany | Florence: Florence Cathedral, Palazzo Vecchio, Pisa: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa Baptistery |
Umbria | Gubbio: Palazzo del Capitano |
Veneto | Venice: Doge's Palace, Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Porto Marghera, Rialto Bridge, St Mark's Campanile, Verona: Verona Arena | |
Attractions
Particularly on special evenings,[32] the park hosts live shows by street artists, acrobats, dancers, singers, and musicians. Piazza Italia, a square in the park, hosts many such events.[33]
The park's attractions include:
- AreAvventura, a tree-climbing activity area
- Cinemagia 7D, an immersive cinematic experience
- , a pavilion dedicated to physics opened in 2021.
- , a carousel
- (Interactive Driving School). Measuring 1300m2, visitors aged 6 to 12 can learn to drive a Fiat 500 through a virtual instructor for printed licences. The attraction has been powered by clean energy since 2010.
- . The park's 730m (2,400feet) monorail is electrified with 12 motors each producing 4 horsepower using alternating current. The 30m (100feet) train accommodates up to 70 people in 12 carriages, reaching a maximum speed of 12km/h. The monorail is suspended in the air, on average 6m (20feet) above the ground.
- (Scientific Luna Park). The 420m2 pavilion hosts hosts educational scientific exhibitions in 10 sections, with interactive laboratories with experimental technologies.
- Pappamondo. Opened in 2021, Pappamondo is a parrot aviary.[34]
- Pinocchio. Opened in 2021, the Pinocchio attraction features a train ride through places and characters inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio,[35] including Mangiafuoco's theatre.
- Play Mart, a ballpark
- Sling Shot. Modelled as a slingshot, the attraction propels visitors 55m (180feet) into the air.[36]
- (Panoramic Tower), a hot air balloon ride with 80,000 miniature figures of visitors to the park
- (Old Sawmill), a log flume
Transport
Start Romagna SpA's route 8 bus serves Italia in Miniatura; the route runs between Rimini's city centre and Viserba railway station.[37] The park is located on the state road between Rimini and Ravenna, on the ancient Via Popilia. It is accessed from the Rimini Nord exit of the A14 tolled highway.
Incidents
On 26 April 2010, a 46-year-old woman died after disembarking the Sling Shot attraction.[38]
On 2 April 2015, the monorail stopped mid-air with 36 passengers, who were safely rescued by Rimini's fire brigade.[39]
In popular culture
The music video for, a 1978 single by Raffaella Carrà, was filmed at Italia in Miniatura.[40] In June 2022, the park featured in the music video of Tuca Tuca Remix, a single by Carmen Russo and in homage to Carrà.[41]
From the end of the 1970s,[42] the photographer Luigi Ghirri began visiting the park frequently, which he believed resonated with his work on the relationship between fiction and reality. Ghirri took 220 photographs of the park, which he first exhibited in 1979.
See also
Notes and References
- Gambetti . Nicola . 2020 . L'Italia in Miniatura: Una storia lunga 50 anni . Italy in Miniature: A history 50 years long . Ariminum . May–June 2020 . it-IT . . 18–19 . 10 February 2024.
- Web site: Uno dei parchi italiani con più storia . One of Italy's parks with the most history . 10 February 2024 . Italia in Miniatura . it.
- Web site: 18 April 2023 . Il modellino del palazzo ducale Ferrara all'Italia in miniatura . The model of the ducal palace of Ferrara in Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.
- Web site: 8 July 1970 . Un'impresa che ha dell'incredibile presso Viserba . An incredible enterprise in Ravenna . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.
- Web site: 24 July 2023 . Frontale a Rimini: coinvolta bambina di 5 anni. Elisoccorso atterra sulla SS16 . Head-on collision in Rimini: 5-year-old girl involved. Helicopter rescue lands on the SS16. . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 8 August 2023 . Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . Rimini Turismo . it-IT.
- Web site: 14 August 2023 . Italia in Miniatura: funziona l'apertura serale agostana. Prossime date, il 16 e il 23 agosto . Italia in Miniatura: August evening opening starts. Next dates, August 16th and 23rd. . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 11 August 2018 . Stelle in pigiama all'Italia in Miniatura . Stars in pyjamas at Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 2 August 2021 . Il 6 agosto Italia in Miniatura festeggia 50 anni e regala l'ingresso a 1000 riminesi . On August 6th, Italia in Miniatura celebrates 50 years and offers admission to 1000 Rimini residents . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: Sirotti . Annamaria . 7 August 2021 . A Rimini, grande festa per i 50 anni di Italia in Miniatura . In Rimini, a big party for the 50th anniversary of Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 30 June 2022 . Notte Rosa nei parchi Costa della Romagna. Da Aquafan a Italia in Miniatura animazione e sorprese in pink. Fine settimana di emozioni a Oltremare e Acquario di Cattolica . Pink Night in the parks of the Romagna coast. From Aquafan to Italia in Miniatura, animation and surprises in pink. Weekend of emotions at Oltremare and Cattolica Aquarium. . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: Silvano . Giulio . 29 April 2022 . Il grand tour dell'Italia in miniatura di Luigi Ghirri . Luigi Ghirri's great tour of Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . Rivista Studio . it-IT.
- Web site: Montemaggi . Edda . 3 August 1973 . Il paradiso dei bambini . Children's paradise . 10 February 2024 . . 6.
- Web site: 8 August 2021 . "Italia in Miniatura traino per il turismo" . Italia in Miniatura is driving tourism . 10 February 2024 . . it.
- Web site: 19 March 2010 . Italia in miniatura festeggia i 40 anni . Italy in Miniature celebrates 40 years . 10 February 2024 . Rimini Turismo . it-IT.
- Web site: Gattei . Gilberto . 16 December 2020 . La storia (vera) dell'Isola delle Rose . The (true) story of Isola delle Rose . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 23 May 2012 . Ecso invita 'Italia in Miniatura' a trasferirsi a San Marino . Ecso invites 'Italia in Miniatura' to move to San Marino . 10 February 2024 . libertas . it-SM.
- Web site: 19 March 2014 . Cambio della guardia a Italia in Miniatura: il parco acquisito dal gruppo Costa . Changing of the guard at Italia in Miniatura: The park is acquired by the Costa group . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: 19 March 2014 . Italia in Miniatura nuovo gioiello di Costa . Italia in Miniatura is Costa's new jewel . 10 February 2024 . Corriere Romagna . it-IT.
- Web site: Torri . Tommaso . 30 March 2017 . Bancarotta fraudolenta, nei guai gli storici patron di Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: 24 April 2019 . Bancarotta fraudolenta, assolti i patron di Italia in Miniatura . Fraudulent bankruptcy: The patrons of Italia in Miniatura acquitted . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: 16 June 2021 . Parchi Costa della Romagna: una grande ripartenza dopo 9 mesi di stop . Romagna coastline parks: a great restart after 9 months closed . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 26 June 2020 . Un bambino gigante per l'estate 2020 di Italia in Miniatura . A giant child for the 2020 summer of Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: 7 August 2021 . Mezzo secolo di divertimento e storia: Italia in Miniatura brinda alla sua sfida imprenditoriale . Half a century of fun and history: Italia in Miniatura toasts its entrepreneurial challenge . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: 8 April 2019 . Italia in Miniatura: l'Italia che non hai mai visto è nelle mani dei bambini . Italia in Miniatura: the Italy you have never seen is in the hands of children . 10 February 2024 . . it.
- Web site: 29 March 2023 . Riparte la stagione dei parchi divertimento, tra le novità il Mondo dei Dinosauri e gli insetti giganti XXL . The amusement park season starts again: Among the new features, the World of Dinosaurs and the giant XXL insects . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: 23 August 1982 . Un mostro per le strade di Aosta? . A sculpture for Aosta's streets? . 10 February 2024 . . 2.
- Web site: 19 June 2020 . Italia in Miniatura si rifà il look e riapre il 1° luglio con oltre 270 attrazioni riprodotte in scala . Italia in Miniatura gets a new look and reopens on July 1st with over 270 attractions reproduced to scale . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it-IT.
- Web site: 7 February 2015 . Maltempo: flagellata anche l'Italia in Miniatura . Bad weather: Italia in Miniatura was also hit . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 9 February 2023 . Dal Colosseo al Duomo di Milano, le spettacolari foto di Italia in Miniatura sotto la neve . From the Colosseum to the Cathedral of Milan, the spectacular photos of Italia in Miniatura under the snow . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it-IT.
- Web site: 23 August 2021 . Garavaglia visita Italia in Miniatura "Supporto economico ai parchi" . Garavaglia visits Italia in Miniatura: "Economic support for the parks" . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.
- Web site: 10 August 2022 . Italia in Miniatura s'illumina per San Lorenzo . Italia in Miniatura lights up for San Lorenzo . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.
- Web site: 3 July 2019 . Italia in Miniatura pronta a spegnere 49 candeline, aprì i battenti il 4 luglio del 1970 . Italia in Miniatura ready to blow out 49 candles: Opened its doors on 4 July 1970 . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it-IT.
- Web site: 7 August 2013 . Pappagallo perde la via di casa e viene accudito all'Italia in Miniatura . Parrot loses his way home and is looked after at Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: 30 August 2021 . l'Italia in miniatura a 50 anni riparte con mille ingressi . Italia in Miniatura at 50 years old restarts with a thousand entries . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.
- Web site: Sirotti . Annamaria . 26 April 2010 . Donna muore all'Italia in Miniatura dopo essere scesa dalla giostra . Woman dies at Italia in Miniatura after getting off the carousel . 10 February 2024 . . it-SM.
- Web site: Rete dei trasporti pubblici del Comune di Rimini . Public transport network of Rimini . 7 June 2023 . Start Romagna . it.
- Web site: 26 April 2010 . Vola sulla fionda e muore: Choc all'Italia in miniatura . She flies on the 'slingshot' and dies: Shock at Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.
- Web site: Torri . Tommaso . 2 April 2015 . Paura a Italia in Miniatura, la monorotaia si blocca coi turisti a bordo . Fear in Italia in Miniatura: The monorail stops with tourists on board . 10 February 2024 . RiminiToday . it.
- Web site: Redazione . 5 July 2021 . Il cordoglio per la Carrà: a Italia in Miniatura girò il video di Tanti Auguri . Condolences for Carrà: The video for Tanti Auguri was shot at Italia in Miniatura . 10 February 2024 . newsrimini.it . it-IT.
- Web site: 10 June 2022 . A Italia in Miniatura Carmen Russo ed Enzo Paolo Turchi lanciano "Tuca Tuca Remix" . At Italia in Miniatura, Carmen Russo and Enzo Paolo Turchi launch "Tuca Tuca Remix" . 10 February 2024 . Corriere Romagna . it-IT.
- Web site: Bonfrisco . Stella . 20 April 2022 . Italia in Miniatura: le prospettive di Ghirri . Italia in Miniatura: Ghirri's perspectives . 10 February 2024 . . it-IT.