Rimini has attracted a crowd in August since time immemorial. The internationally renowned summer holiday destination on la Riviera Romagnola is synonymous with long sandy beaches that are hard to beat, especially for families and party-goers. But this pre-eminent party town has also a deep cultural vibe. It boasts Roman architecture in abundance, including the Arch of Augustus, the Tiberius Bridge and an amphitheater. There is also a Renaissance cathedral to admire and the outstanding nearby settlement of San Leo.

I enjoyed a slow city break in San Leo, a lovely, fortified medieval village perched on the slopes of a soaring rock spur in the heart of Valmarecchia. San Leo is full of surprises and intimacy.Vistas over the principality of San Marino and the surrounding landscape are breathtaking. My line of sight to the horizon gets lost, until my eyes find the sea.  The scenery is gorgeous up here amid the jagged peaks of the Apennines and the shimmering Adriatic.