Italia in Miniatura

The miniature park was founded by Ivo Rambaldi, a plumber from Ravenna. After visiting {{Interlanguage link|Swissminiatur|de}}, a miniature park near Lugano, Switzerland,{{Cite web |last=Silvano |first=Giulio |date=29 April 2022 |title=Il grand tour dell'Italia in miniatura di Luigi Ghirri |trans-title=Luigi Ghirri's great tour of Italia in Miniatura |url=https://www.rivistastudio.com/luigi-ghirri-italia-in-miniatura/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Rivista Studio |language=it-IT}} 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 {{Convert|27,000|km|mi}} to visit and measure monuments, taking over 6,200 photographs.{{Cite web |last=Montemaggi |first=Edda |date=3 August 1973 |title=Il paradiso dei bambini |trans-title=Children's paradise |url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,6/articleid,1507_02_1973_0180_0006_21222663/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=La Stampa |page=6}} 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 {{Interlanguage link|Strada statale 16 Adriatica|lt=SS16|it|Strada statale 16 Adriatica}} 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;{{Cite web |date=8 August 2021 |title="Italia in Miniatura traino per il turismo" |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura is driving tourism |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/rimini/cronaca/italia-in-miniatura-traino-per-il-turismo-a50fba7f |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=19 March 2010 |title=Italia in miniatura festeggia i 40 anni |trans-title=Italy in Miniature celebrates 40 years |url=https://riminiturismo.it/eventi-notizie/italia-miniatura-festeggia-i-40-anni |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Rimini Turismo |language=it-IT}} its inauguration was notable for its rain. It was the fourth theme park to open in Italy after Perugia's {{ill|Città della Domenica|it}}, Naples' {{ill|Edenlandia|it}} (1965), and {{Interlanguage link|Fiabilandia|lt=|it|}} (1966), also in Rimini. Local residents saw the attraction as part of the 1960s Americanisation of the seaside resort.{{Cite web |last=Gattei |first=Gilberto |date=16 December 2020 |title=La storia (vera) dell'Isola delle Rose |trans-title=The (true) story of Isola delle Rose |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/music-news-c25/la-storia-vera-dell-isola-delle-rose-a198554 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=San Marino RTV |language=it-SM}} At the time of its inauguration, it numbered between 49 and 61 models, many of monuments from Emilia-Romagna, over an outdoor area of {{Convert|20,000|m2|sqft}}.

In May 2012, a Sammarinese association suggested that the park could move to a {{Convert|300000|m2|sqft|adj=on}} state-owned agricultural area in Cinque Vie, citing the park's continued threat to relocate from Viserba given its difficulties in acquiring adjacent land.{{Cite web |last= |date=23 May 2012 |title=Ecso invita 'Italia in Miniatura' a trasferirsi a San Marino |trans-title=Ecso invites 'Italia in Miniatura' to move to San Marino |url=https://www.libertas.sm/ecso-invita-italia-in-miniatura-a-trasferirsi-a-san-marino-61934/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=libertas |language=it-SM}}

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 {{Euro|15 million}} and {{Euro|16 million}}. Costa had already acquired the Aquarium of Cattolica in 2000 and {{ill|Aquafan|it}} in Riccione in 2013.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2014 |title=Cambio della guardia a Italia in Miniatura: il parco acquisito dal gruppo Costa |trans-title=Changing of the guard at Italia in Miniatura: The park is acquired by the Costa group |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/cronaca/cambio-della-guardia-a-italia-in-miniatura-rimini-parco-acquisito-dal-gruppo-costa.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=19 March 2014 |title=Italia in Miniatura nuovo gioiello di Costa |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura is Costa's new jewel |url=https://www.corriereromagna.it/rimini/news-rimini-2821-italia-miniatura-nuovo-gioiello-html-FGCR21632 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Corriere Romagna |language=it-IT}} On 15 April 2015, the previous management company was declared bankrupt after accumulating liabilites exceeding {{Euro|1.5 million}}. Its directors were investigated by the Guardia di Finanza for diverting over {{Euro|500,000}} away from creditors,{{Cite web |last=Torri |first=Tommaso |date=30 March 2017 |title=Bancarotta fraudolenta, nei guai gli storici patron di Italia in Miniatura |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/cronaca/rimini-bancarotta-fraudolenta-nei-guai-i-patron-di-italia-in-miniatura.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}} and were acquitted by the Court of Forlì on 24 April 2019.{{Cite web |date=24 April 2019 |title=Bancarotta fraudolenta, assolti i patron di Italia in Miniatura |trans-title=Fraudulent bankruptcy: The patrons of Italia in Miniatura acquitted |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/cronaca/bancarotta-fraudolenta-assolti-patron-imprenditori-italia-miniatura-1.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}

The park was renovated between 2018 and 2021, at a cost of {{Euro|3 million}}, featuring new attractions Esperimenta, Pinocchio and Pappamondo,{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 June 2021 |title=Parchi Costa della Romagna: una grande ripartenza dopo 9 mesi di stop |trans-title=Romagna coastline parks: a great restart after 9 months closed |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/news/italia-c7/parchi-costa-della-romagna-una-grande-ripartenza-dopo-9-mesi-di-stop-a207243 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=San Marino RTV |language=it-SM}} and a new entrance with fountains and a statue of a child that is {{Convert|10|m|ft}} tall.{{Cite web |date=26 June 2020 |title=Un bambino gigante per l'estate 2020 di Italia in Miniatura |trans-title=A giant child for the 2020 summer of Italia in Miniatura |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/cronaca/un-bambino-gigante-per-l-estate-2020-di-italia-in-miniatura.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}

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 {{Interlanguage link|Marco Croatti|lt=|it|}} and Sergio Romagnoli, poet Beppe Costa, and media personalities {{Interlanguage link|Lia Celi|lt=|it|}} and Kleidi Kadiu.{{Cite web |date=7 August 2021 |title=Mezzo secolo di divertimento e storia: Italia in Miniatura brinda alla sua sfida imprenditoriale |trans-title=Half a century of fun and history: Italia in Miniatura toasts its entrepreneurial challenge |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/attualita/mezzo-secolo-di-divertimento-e-storia-italia-in-miniatura-brinda-alla-sua-grande-sfida-imprenditoriale.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}

The park's grounds include 10,000 plants, half of which are real miniature trees. Its canals are filled with {{Convert|2500|m3|cuft}} of water. Eighteen model trains operate in the park.{{Cite web |date=8 April 2019 |title=Italia in Miniatura: l'Italia che non hai mai visto è nelle mani dei bambini |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura: the Italy you have never seen is in the hands of children |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/pubbliredazionali/italia-in-miniatura-litalia-che-non-hai-mai-visto-e-nelle-mani-dei-bambini-lga2wwts |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it}}

Italia in Miniatura features three restaurants and several kiosks for snacks and ice creams, as well as a picnic area.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2023 |title=Riparte la stagione dei parchi divertimento, tra le novità il Mondo dei Dinosauri e gli insetti giganti XXL |trans-title=The amusement park season starts again: Among the new features, the World of Dinosaurs and the giant XXL insects |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/attualita/parchi-divertimeno-novita-dinosauri-insetti-italia-miniatura-acquario-oltremare.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}

File:Arena Verona.jpg, June 2012]]

The park consists of 273 miniatures over an outdoor area of {{Convert|85,000|m2|sqft}}. 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.

File:Venezia in Italia in miniatura.jpg sector, July 2009]]

Among notable models, the park features a 1:5 reproduction of 119 buildings in Venice, with a surface area of {{Convert|6,600|m2|sqft}}. St Mark's Campanile reaches a height of {{Convert|20|m|ft}}. 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 {{Convert|1,600|m2|sqft}}, its towers reaching a height of {{Convert|7|m|ft}}, 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.

Particularly on special evenings,{{Cite web |date=10 August 2022 |title=Italia in Miniatura s'illumina per San Lorenzo |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura lights up for San Lorenzo |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/rimini/cronaca/italia-in-miniatura-sillumina-per-san-lorenzo-c2a2e5f2 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it-IT}} the park hosts live shows by street artists, acrobats, dancers, singers, and musicians. Piazza Italia, a square in the park, hosts many such events.{{Cite web |date=3 July 2019 |title=Italia in Miniatura pronta a spegnere 49 candeline, aprì i battenti il 4 luglio del 1970 |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura ready to blow out 49 candles: Opened its doors on 4 July 1970 |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/cronaca/italia-in-miniatura-pronta-a-spegnere-49-candeline-apri-i-battenti-il-4-luglio-del-1970.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it-IT}}

The park's attractions include:

• AreAvventura, a tree-climbing activity area
• Cinemagia 7D, an immersive cinematic experience
• {{Lang|it|Esperimenta}}, a pavilion dedicated to physics opened in 2021.
• {{Lang|it|Giostra Cavalli}}, a carousel
• File:Scuola Guida Interattiva vigile.JPG{{Lang|it|Scuola Guida Interattiva}} (Interactive Driving School). Measuring {{Convert|1,300|m2|sqft|adj=on}}, 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.
• {{Lang|it|Monorotaia}}. The park's {{Convert|730|m|ft|adj=on}} monorail is electrified with 12 motors each producing 4 horsepower using alternating current. The {{Convert|30|m|ft|adj=on}} train accommodates up to 70 people in 12 carriages, reaching a maximum speed of {{Convert|12|km/h|mph}}. The monorail is suspended in the air, on average {{Convert|6|m|ft}} above the ground.
• File:Luna Park della Scienza.jpg{{Lang|it|Luna Park della Scienza}} (Scientific Luna Park). The {{Convert|420|m2|sqft|adj=on}} pavilion hosts hosts educational scientific exhibitions in 10 sections, with interactive laboratories with experimental technologies.
• Pappamondo. Opened in 2021, Pappamondo is a parrot aviary.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 August 2013 |title=Pappagallo perde la via di casa e viene accudito all'Italia in Miniatura |trans-title=Parrot loses his way home and is looked after at Italia in Miniatura |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/news/cronaca-c3/pappagallo-perde-via-casa-viene-accudito-italia-miniatura-a120179 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=San Marino RTV |language=it-SM}}
• Pinocchio. Opened in 2021, the Pinocchio attraction features a train ride through places and characters inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio,{{Cite web |date=30 August 2021 |title=l'Italia in miniatura a 50 anni riparte con mille ingressi |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura at 50 years old restarts with a thousand entries |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/rimini/cronaca/litalia-in-miniatura-a-50-anni-riparte-con-mille-ingressi-7be6d75a |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it-IT}} including Mangiafuoco's theatre.
• Play Mart, a ballpark
• Sling Shot. Modelled as a slingshot, the attraction propels visitors {{Convert|55|m|ft}} into the air.{{Cite web |last=Sirotti |first=Annamaria |date=26 April 2010 |title=Donna muore all'Italia in Miniatura dopo essere scesa dalla giostra |trans-title=Woman dies at Italia in Miniatura after getting off the carousel |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/news/attualita-c4/donna-muore-italia-miniatura-dopo-essere-scesa-dalla-giostra-a79182 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=San Marino RTV |language=it-SM}}
• {{Lang|it|Torre Panoramica}} (Panoramic Tower), a hot air balloon ride with 80,000 miniature figures of visitors to the park
• {{Lang|it|Vecchia Segheria}} (Old Sawmill), a log flume

Start Romagna SpA's route 8 bus serves Italia in Miniatura; the route runs between Rimini's city centre and Viserba railway station.{{Cite web |title=Rete dei trasporti pubblici del Comune di Rimini |trans-title=Public transport network of Rimini |url=https://www.startromagna.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/start_mappa_rimini-riccione_2017.pdf |access-date=7 June 2023 |website=Start Romagna |language=it}} The park is located on the {{Interlanguage link|Strada statale 16 Adriatica|lt=SS16|it|Strada statale 16 Adriatica}} state road between Rimini and Ravenna, on the ancient Via Popilia. It is accessed from the Rimini Nord exit of the A14 tolled highway.

On 26 April 2010, a 46-year-old woman died after disembarking the Sling Shot attraction.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=26 April 2010 |title=Vola sulla fionda e muore: Choc all'Italia in miniatura |trans-title=She flies on the 'slingshot' and dies: Shock at Italia in Miniatura |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/rimini/cronaca/2010/04/26/323490-vola_sulla_fionda_muore.shtml |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it-IT}}

On 2 April 2015, the monorail stopped mid-air with 36 passengers, who were safely rescued by Rimini's fire brigade.{{Cite web |last=Torri |first=Tommaso |date=2 April 2015 |title=Paura a Italia in Miniatura, la monorotaia si blocca coi turisti a bordo |trans-title=Fear in Italia in Miniatura: The monorail stops with tourists on board |url=https://www.riminitoday.it/cronaca/paura-rimini-italia-in-miniatura-la-monorotaia-si-blocca-coi-turisti-a-bordo.html |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=RiminiToday |language=it}}

The music video for {{ill|Tanti auguri/Amoa|it||lt=Tanti auguri|italic=yes}}, a 1978 single by Raffaella Carrà, was filmed at Italia in Miniatura.{{Cite web |last=Redazione |date=5 July 2021 |title=Il cordoglio per la Carrà: a Italia in Miniatura girò il video di Tanti Auguri |trans-title=Condolences for Carrà: The video for Tanti Auguri was shot at Italia in Miniatura |url=https://www.newsrimini.it/2021/07/il-cordoglio-per-la-carra-allitalia-in-miniatura-canto-e-ballo-tanti-auguri/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=newsrimini.it |language=it-IT}} In June 2022, the park featured in the music video of Tuca Tuca Remix, a single by Carmen Russo and {{ill|Enzo Paolo Turchi|it||lt=}} in homage to Carrà.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=10 June 2022 |title=A Italia in Miniatura Carmen Russo ed Enzo Paolo Turchi lanciano "Tuca Tuca Remix" |trans-title=At Italia in Miniatura, Carmen Russo and Enzo Paolo Turchi launch "Tuca Tuca Remix" |url=https://www.corriereromagna.it/cultura/a-italia-in-miniatura-carmen-russo-ed-enzo-paolo-turchi-lanciano-tuca-tuca-remix-HVCR372588 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Corriere Romagna |language=it-IT}}

From the end of the 1970s,{{Cite web |last=Bonfrisco |first=Stella |date=20 April 2022 |title=Italia in Miniatura: le prospettive di Ghirri |trans-title=Italia in Miniatura: Ghirri's perspectives |url=https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/reggio-emilia/cronaca/italia-in-miniatura-le-prospettive-di-ghirri-4ac034b0 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=Il Resto del Carlino |language=it-IT}} 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.

File:Piazza San Pietro Italia in Miniatura.JPG|Saint Peter's Square in Rome

File:Arena di Verona in Italia in miniatura.jpg|Verona Arena

File:Italia in miniatura.jpg|View over the park to the entrance

File:Colosseum in Italia in miniatura.jpg|Colosseum

File:Firenze in Italia in miniatura.jpg|Florence Cathedral

• France Miniature – a miniature park in Élancourt, France

{{Commonscat|Italia in Miniatura}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:Miniature parks

Category:Buildings and structures in Rimini

Category:1970 establishments in Italy

Category:Amusement parks in Italy

Category:Tourist attractions in Emilia-Romagna

Category:Amusement parks opened in 1970