Italia in Miniatura () is a

miniature park A miniature park is a display of miniature buildings and models, usually as a recreational and tourist attraction open to the public. A miniature park may contain a model of a single city or town, often called a miniature city or model village, o ...

in Viserba, a of

Rimini Rimini ( , ; or ; ) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. Sprawling along the Adriatic Sea, Rimini is situated at a strategically-important north-south passage along the coast at the southern tip of the Po Valley. It is ...

in the region of

Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...

northern Italy Northern Italy (, , ) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. The Italian National Institute of Statistics defines the region as encompassing the four Northwest Italy, northwestern Regions of Italy, regions of Piedmo ...

. Opened on 4 July 1970, Italia in Miniatura is Italy's fourth-oldest

theme park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...

, and attracts 500,000 visitors per year. It features 273

polyurethane Polyurethane (; often abbreviated PUR and PU) is a class of polymers composed of organic chemistry, organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethane term ...

models over an outdoor area of . 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 Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

can be traversed with a

gondola ride The gondola (, ; , ) is a traditional, Flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed Venice, Venetian watercraft rowing, rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. It is typically propelled by a gondolier, who uses a rowing oar, whi ...

along the Grand Canal. Other attractions include a

driving school ''Driving School'' is a docusoap and fly on the wall documentary that was broadcast on BBC1 in the summer of 1997, which followed a group of learner drivers around Bristol and South Wales. The series was made on a reduced budget but shown in p ...

, a

suspended monorail A suspension railway is a form of elevated monorail in which the vehicle is suspended from a fixed track (as opposed to a cable used in aerial tramways), which is built above streets, waterways, or existing railway track. History Experimental ...

, interactive spaces dedicated to

science education Science education is the teaching and learning of science to school children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education includes work in science content, science process (the scientific method), some ...

, a

parrot Parrots (Psittaciformes), also known as psittacines (), are birds with a strong curved beak, upright stance, and clawed feet. They are classified in four families that contain roughly 410 species in 101 genus (biology), genera, found mostly in ...

aviary An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds, although bats may also be considered for display. Unlike birdcages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where Bird flight, they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flig ...

hot air balloons A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a Gondola (balloon), gondola or wicker, wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, ...

, a

log flume A log flume or lumber flume is a watertight flume constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain using flowing water. Flumes replaced horse- or oxen-drawn carriages on dangerous mountain trails in the late 19th century. Loggi ...

, and a

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel, ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a poor man named Geppetto in a Tuscan vil ...

-themed

train ride ''Train Ride'' is a feature thriller film written and directed by Rel Dowdell and Executive Produced by Rich Murray. It was released in 2005 by Murray's RuffNation Films via Sony Entertainment. It revolves around the consequences of an incident ...

. The park is located on the

state road A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either numbered or maintained by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a state or ...

between Rimini and

Ravenna Ravenna ( ; , also ; ) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its Fall of Rome, collapse in 476, after which ...

, on the ancient

Via Popilia __NOTOC__ The Via Popilia is the name of two different ancient Roman roads begun in the consulship of Publius Popilius Laenas. One was in southern Italy and the other was in north-eastern Italy. Road in southern Italy The road in southern Ita ...

. It occasionally hosts evenings with late closing hours in the summer. The park is owned by Costa Edutainment SpA, who also own the

Aquarium of Cattolica The Aquarium of Cattolica is the second largest public aquarium in Italy. It is located in Cattolica on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic coast. It was inaugurated in 2000. Key features The aquarium has a summer camp for the children of Italians who fo ...

and the

water park A water park (also waterpark, water world, or aquapark) is an amusement park that features water play areas such as swimming pools, water slides, splash pads, water playgrounds, and lazy rivers, as well as areas for floating, bathing, swimming ...

Riccione Riccione (; ) is a (municipality) in the Province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. Riccione is centred on the Rio Melo, a minor river that flows into the Adriatic Sea. In the decades following the construction of the Bologna–Ancona r ...

History

The miniature park was founded by Ivo Rambaldi, a plumber from

. After visiting , a miniature park near

Lugano Lugano ( , , ; ) is a city and municipality within the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It is the largest city in both Ticino and the Italian-speaking region of southern Switzerland. Lugano has a population () of , and an u ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, 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 Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. These points are usually on the ...

. Rambaldi travelled to visit and measure monuments, taking over 6,200 photographs. The first models were monuments from Ravenna:

Tomb of Dante The Tomb of Dante () is an Italian neoclassical architecture, neoclassical national monument built over the tomb of the poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) in 1781. It is sited next to the Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Basilica of San Francesc ...

, the

Capanno Garibaldi The Capanno Garibaldi () is a hunting cabin north of Ravenna, in the region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, known for having sheltered Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi on the night of 6–7 August 1849, during his escape from Italy ...

, and

Sant'Apollinare in Classe The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe ("Saint Apollinaris in Classe") is a church in Classe, Ravenna, Italy, consecrated on 9 May 549 by the Maximianus of Ravenna, bishop Maximian and dedicated to Apollinaris of Ravenna, Saint Apollinaris ...

, 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

, having previously considered sites near the SS72 state road to

San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. Located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, it is the larger of two European microstates, microsta ...

and a site adjacent to the

Misano World Circuit The Misano World Circuit (officially known as Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli or Misano Circuit Sic 58, and before 2006 called Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica Misano) is a race track located next to the town of Misano Adriatico (Provi ...

. The park cost 300 million lire to build. Italia in Miniatura opened on 4 July 1970; its inauguration was notable for its rain. It was the fourth theme park to open in Italy after

Perugia Perugia ( , ; ; ) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area. It has 162,467 ...

's ,

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

' (1965), and (1966), also in Rimini. Local residents saw the attraction as part of the 1960s Americanisation of the seaside resort. At the time of its inauguration, it numbered between 49 and 61 models, many of monuments from

, over an outdoor area of . In May 2012, a Sammarinese association suggested that the park could move to a state-owned agricultural area in

Cinque Vie Cinque Vie () is a ''curazia'' of San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. Located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, it is ...

, citing the park's continued threat to relocate from Viserba given its difficulties in acquiring adjacent land. 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

in 2000 and in

in 2013. On 15 April 2015, the previous management company was declared

bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the de ...

after accumulating liabilities exceeding . Its directors were investigated by the

Guardia di Finanza The Guardia di Finanza (; G. di F. or GdF; or ) is an Italian militarised law enforcement agency under the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Italy), Ministry of Economy and Finance, instead of the Ministry of Defence (Italy), Ministry of Defence ...

for diverting over away from creditors, and were acquitted by the Court of

Forlì Forlì ( ; ; ; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) and city in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, and is, together with Cesena, the capital of the Province of Forlì-Cesena.The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the east of the Montone river, ...

on 24 April 2019. The park was renovated between 2018 and 2021, at a cost of , featuring new attractions ''Esperimenta'', ''Pinocchio'' and ''Pappamondo'', and a new entrance with fountains and a statue of a child that is tall. 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 Stefano Bonaccini (; born 1 January 1967) is an Italian politician and member of the Democratic Party (PD), of which he is serving as president since 12 March 2023. In 2024, he was elected to the European Parliament to represent North-East Ita ...

, President of Emilia-Romagna, senators and Sergio Romagnoli, poet

Beppe Costa Beppe Costa (born 25 August 1941) is an Italian poet, novelist and publisher. Biography The beginning Born into a poor family grows, however, in an environment rich in books. He published the first volume of poems in 1970Kleidi Kadiu.

Features

The park's grounds include 10,000 plants, half of which are real miniature trees. Its canals are filled with of water. Eighteen

model trains Railway modelling (UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland) or model railroading (US and Canada) is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale. The scale models include locomotives, rolling stock, streetcars, ...

operate in the park. Italia in Miniatura features three restaurants and several kiosks for snacks and ice creams, as well as a picnic area.

Models

The park consists of 273 miniatures over an outdoor area of . Most of the models are of scale 1:25 (like Sant'Apollinare in Classe), 1:33 (like

Pisa Pisa ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Tuscany, Central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for the Leaning Tow ...

Piazza dei Miracoli The Piazza dei Miracoli (; 'Square of Miracles'), formally known as Piazza del Duomo ('Cathedral Square'), is a walled compound in central Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, recognized as an important center of European medieval art and one of the finest ...

), and 1:50 (like

Milan Cathedral Milan Cathedral ( ; ), or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary (), is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, Nativity of St. Mary (), it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdi ...

). The models are made of

, which is resistant to the weather. The models are decorated with

figurines A figurine A figurine (a diminutive form of the word ''figure'') or statuette is a small, three-dimensional sculpture that represents a human, deity or animal, or, in practice, a pair or small group of them. Figurines have been made in many med ...

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. Venezia in Italia in miniatura

Among notable models, the park features a 1:5 reproduction of 119 buildings in

, with a surface area of .

St Mark's Campanile St Mark's Campanile (, ) is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. The campanile is a reconstruction completed in 1912, the previous tower having collapsed in 1902. At in height, it is the tallest structure in Venice and is collo ...

reaches a height of . Visitors can ride a gondola through the reproduction of the Grand Canal, with an

audio guide An audio tour or audio guide provides a Sound recording, recorded spoken commentary, normally through a handheld device, to a visitor attraction such as a museum. They are also available for self-guided tours of outdoor locations, or as a part of ...

from

Giacomo Casanova Giacomo Girolamo Casanova (; ; 2 April 1725 – 4 June 1798) was an Italian adventurer who was born in the Republic of Venice and travelled extensively throughout Europe. He is chiefly remembered for his autobiography, written in French and pu ...

. The Venetian sector took nine years to construct. ''Cannonacqua'' is a 1:3 reproduction of Rimini's

Castel Sismondo Castel Sismondo is a castle in Rimini, Romagna, northern Italy. Only the central nucleus of the structure remains. Since 2021, the castle is one of three sites of the Fellini Museum. History Malatesta period The castle was built by Sigismond ...

. The castle occupies , its towers reaching a height of , and is equipped with 32 water cannons. Buttons animate some scenes, such as a performance of

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for List of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma ...

's ''

Aida ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 De ...

'' at the

Verona Arena The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre located in the historic center of Verona, an iconic symbol of the Venetian city alongside the figures of Romeo and Juliet. It stands as one of the grand structures that defined Roman architecture and ...

, a fire in

Porto Marghera Marghera is a ''municipalità'' (borough) of the ''comune'' of Venice, Italy. It includes the industrial area known as Porto Marghera (English: Marghera Port) or Venezia Porto Marghera. Etymology The name Marghera is said in popular myth to come ...

, and the opening of the

Ponte Girevole The Ponte Girevole is a swing bridge in Taranto, Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into th ...

swingbridge A swing bridge (or swing span bridge) is a movable bridge that can be rotated horizontally around a vertical axis. It has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its center of gravity ...

Attractions

Particularly on special evenings, the park hosts live shows by

street artists A street artist is a person who makes art in public places. Street artists include portrait artists, caricaturists, graffiti artists, muralists and people making crafts. Street artists can also refer to street performers such as musicians, acro ...

acrobats Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acro d ...

, dancers, singers, and musicians. Piazza Italia, a square in the park, hosts many such events. The park's attractions include: * ''AreAvventura'', a tree-climbing activity area * ''Cinemagia 7D'', an immersive cinematic experience * ', a

pavilion In architecture, ''pavilion'' has several meanings; * It may be a subsidiary building that is either positioned separately or as an attachment to a main building. Often it is associated with pleasure. In palaces and traditional mansions of Asia ...

dedicated to

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

opened in 2021. * ', a

carousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (International English), or galloper (British English) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The seats are tradit ...

(Interactive Driving School). Measuring , visitors aged 6 to 12 can learn to drive a

Fiat 500 The Fiat 500 (, ) is an Economy car, economy / city car that was manufactured and marketed by Fiat Automobiles from 1957 until 1975. It was sold as a two-door semi-convertible or saloon car and as a three-door panel van or estate car. Launched ...

through a virtual instructor for printed

licences A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...

. The attraction has been powered by clean energy since 2010. * '. The park's

monorail A monorail is a Rail transport, railway in which the track consists of a single rail or beam. Colloquially, the term "monorail" is often used to describe any form of elevated rail or people mover. More accurately, the term refers to the style ...

is electrified with 12 motors each producing 4

horsepower Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are t ...

using

alternating current Alternating current (AC) is an electric current that periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time, in contrast to direct current (DC), which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in w ...

. The train accommodates up to 70 people in 12 carriages, reaching a maximum speed of . The monorail is suspended in the air, on average above the ground. * Luna Park della Scienza

(Scientific Luna Park). The pavilion hosts hosts educational scientific exhibitions in 10 sections, with interactive laboratories with experimental technologies. * ''Pappamondo''. Opened in 2021, ''Pappamondo'' is a

. * ''Pinocchio''. Opened in 2021, the ''Pinocchio'' attraction features a

through places and characters inspired by

Carlo Collodi Carlo Lorenzini (; 24 November 1826 – 26 October 1890), better known by the pen name Carlo Collodi ( ; ), was an Italian author, humourist, and journalist, widely known for his fairy tale novel '' The Adventures of Pinocchio''. Early lif ...

, including

Mangiafuoco Mangiafuoco ( ; , literally "Fire-Eater") or Mangiafoco is a fictional character who appears in Carlo Collodi's 1883 Italian book ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (''Le avventure di Pinocchio''), serving as a secondary antagonist before redeeming hi ...

's theatre. * ''Play Mart'', a

ballpark A ballpark, or baseball park, is a type of sports venue where baseball is played. The playing field is divided into two field sections called the infield and the outfield. The infield is an area whose dimensions are rigidly defined in part ba ...

* ''Sling Shot''. Modelled as a

slingshot A slingshot or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame, with two tubes or strips made from either a natural rubber or synthetic elastic material. These are attached to the upper two ends ...

, the attraction propels visitors into the air. * (Panoramic Tower), a

hot air balloon A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carri ...

ride with 80,000 miniature figures of visitors to the park * ' (Old Sawmill), a

Transport

Start Romagna SpA's route 8 bus serves Italia in Miniatura; the route runs between Rimini's city centre and Viserba railway station. The park is located on the

between Rimini and

, on the ancient

. 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. On 2 April 2015, the monorail stopped mid-air with 36 passengers, who were safely rescued by Rimini's fire brigade.

In popular culture

The music video for "

Tanti auguri "" (; "Best Wishes" or "Best of Luck") is the seventeenth single by Italian pop singer Raffaella Carrà, published in 1978 by the Italian branch of CBS Records International and distributed by Sugar Music. It is considered one of Carrà's signatur ...

", a 1978 single by

Raffaella Carrà Raffaella Maria Roberta Pelloni (18 June 1943 – 5 July 2021), known professionally as Raffaella Carrà () and sometimes mononymously as Raffaella, was an Italian singer, dancer, actress, television presenter and model. She is often widely cons ...

, was filmed at Italia in Miniatura. In June 2022, the park featured in the music video of ''Tuca Tuca Remix'', a single by

Carmen Russo ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the Op ...

and in homage to Carrà following her death the previous year. From the end of the 1970s, the photographer

Luigi Ghirri Luigi Ghirri (5 January 1943 – 14 February 1992) was an Italian artist and photographer whose work was about the relationship between fiction and reality. Ghirri has been the subject of numerous books. His works are held by various museums around ...

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.

Image gallery

File:Piazza San Pietro Italia in Miniatura.JPG,

Saint Peter's Square St. Peter's Square (, ) is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the pope, papal enclave and exclave, enclave in Rome, directly west of the neighborhood (rione) of Borgo (rione of Rome), Borgo. Both t ...

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

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

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

Colosseum The Colosseum ( ; , ultimately from Ancient Greek word "kolossos" meaning a large statue or giant) is an Ellipse, elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphi ...

File:Firenze in Italia in miniatura.jpg,

Florence Cathedral Florence Cathedral (), formally the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower ( ), is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Florence in Florence, Italy. Commenced in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed b ...

References

{{Reflist * Miniature parks Buildings and structures in Rimini 1970 establishments in Italy Amusement parks in Italy Tourist attractions in Emilia-Romagna Amusement parks opened in 1970