The Liberty style in Riccione
The Liberty style can be found in Riccione
The Art Nouveau villas are one of the most important attractions of Riccione, an example of seaside architecture between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
The Art Nouveau style, also called floral style, is an Italian art form that derives from Art Decò.
The word "Liberty" comes from the English merchant Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1858-1919), who traded high quality art objects destined for mass consumption.
The floral style villas are important testimonies of the history of tourism.
Villa Mussolini
It is the most famous in the city, built in 1890 and takes the name of Villa Margherita, before being purchased by Donna Rachele Guidi Mussolini around 1935.
It was the summer residence of the Duce Benito Mussolini. The villa overlooks the seafront and hosts various events and exhibitions.
Built with stylistic simplicity and few decorations, it has thirteen rooms internally.
Villa Franceschi
It was once a luxurious villa for summer holidays. Today it is the seat of the Riccione Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Its architectural layout is characterized by simplicity with a semi-hexagonal shape: the external decorations in concrete are of great value, the staircase is located on the central axis and the rooms on the sides.
The ground floor rooms overlook the garden and the rear tower was used by vacationers to admire the sea.
Villa Lodi Fè
It was built by Decio Monti of Bologna, with the marriage of a descendant, it later passed to the Lodi Fè.
There are no records of when it was built, it is thought to date back to the early decades of the 1900s.
The villa is located within the Pope John Paul II Park. Its chalet shape is one of its peculiarities, with fairytale outlines and archivolted windows, decorative motifs, hanging pitches and tree-lined rows that lead to the entrance stairway.
Other charming Liberty-style villas to visit in Riccione are located in viale Ceccarini, viale Milano, viale Trento Trieste, via Baracca, viale Gramsci and via Spalato.
Tower of Villa Martinelli Soleri 1877
Villa Martinelli was built at the end of the 19th century, almost entirely demolished after World War II, the original terracotta balustrade on the upper floor and the typical Moorish pointed openings remain.
Hotel Des Bains inaugurated in 1908
Designed and built in a sober Art Nouveau style with internal columns and marble, refined fabrics and precious friezes.
Villa Serafini 1920s
Villa Antolini, designed by the architect Vucetich in 1923
"The villa of the Americans", this is how Villa Antolini is remembered by the old people of Riccione.
It was built by Dante and Egle Antolini in 1923 for their summer holidays, when they were returning from the United States. In 1968, after Dante's death, the family that was resident in America decided to rent the Villa and after a few years to put it up for sale.
Grand Hotel in Riccione 1928
The Grand Hotel was built in 1929 with sober and elegant lines predominating in white materials, it was a project by the architect Ceccolini and the engineer Galeazzo Pullè. It immediately became a point of reference for the most famous personalities of the time who spent their holidays in Riccione.
Hotel de la Ville from the 1930s
Villino Graziosi 1932