Italy in Miniature in Rimini, with 3 unmissable mini-adventures

273 miniatures, spread over an exhibition area of 85,000 square metres, 10,000 green plants, at least half of which are in bonsai format, 300 kilometres of electric cables, 2,500 cubic metres of water, 17 small moving trains: these are some of the numbers behind this ambitious undertaking that celebrates Italy and offers adults and children alike the chance to discover its geography and monuments with the winning formula of edutainment; education through entertainment.

Strolling through cities, looking out over squares and gulfs, measuring distances and proportions is in fact a unique way for adults and children to put notions and knowledge in order.

You can stroll between palaces and historical sites, walk the distance between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Adriatic Sea or Milan Cathedral and the Colosseum in Rome, cross mountain ranges and circumvent mountains; or experience the excitement of flying over the landscape from a bird's-eye view, on board the Monorail, an electrically-powered train that traverses the perimeter of the park at an average height of 6 metres, while a voice guide explains the breathtaking panorama of the Alps, St Peter's Basilica or the smoke of Mount Etna, all in one trip of... 700 metres and 8 minutes, at a speed of 15 kilometres per hour! Then, in addition to the mini-tour of Italy, on foot or by train, Italia in Miniatura offers other exciting mini-adventures worth experiencing.  

The first must-see experience is to really sail down the Grand Canal in a gondola among the sumptuous palaces of a Venice reproduced on a scale of 1:5, i.e. only five times smaller than reality. Passing under the Rialto Bridge, you can reach St. Mark's Square that is so 'big' that it can hold up to 280 people, while listening to the voice of a charming Casanova as he tells you gossip and stories of the Serenissima. 

Shifting the emphasis firmly towards fun, at Italia in Miniatura you are also allowed to re-enact epic battles while laughing your head off. Being in Rimini, it is inevitable to set the scene among the towers, bridges and arrow slits of Castel Sismondo, the symbol of the city, reproduced here on a 1:3 scale.

Battling it out are the eternal rivals, Montefeltro and Malatesta, in a frothy water cannon and water balloon fight. The aim of the game: to conquer the fortress and determine whether the descendants of Sigismondo Malatesta will be able to do honour to the Montefeltros. The finale is an open game. Bathing suits are recommended. 

Become an experienced driver on the road, learn the rudiments of the Highway Code, and even get a (mini) driving licence before the age of eighteen. At Italia in Miniatura even this is possible: a driving instruction course for drivers from 6 to 12 years old, on board special talking cars and under the patient guidance of a virtual instructor who has a Romagna accent and answers to the name of Macchingegno, the Car Genius.

A course that makes use of a state-of-the-art monitoring and offence detection system allows young people to learn a useful lesson on proper conduct behind the wheel. Licenses are issued upon request and for a fee. Access is allowed to 14 children per shift.

There are many attractions at Italia in Miniatura, many of them included in the price of the entrance ticket, which can be purchased at a discount online (with the Costa Parchi option, which safeguards against bad weather or any other unforeseen event, allowing you to change your admission day at the last minute), or on site, at full price. We recommend spending the whole day here, as the park is open from 10am to 5pm in low season, and until 6.30pm in high season.

Since we are in Romagna, hospitality is de rigueur: for anyone who is hungry there are no less than 5 refreshment points, with menus also available for coeliacs.