RIMINI is one of the least pretentious towns in Italy, the archetypal seaside resort, with a reputation for good if slightly sleazy fun that puts it on a par with Blackpool or Torremolinos. It’s certainly brash enough to bear the comparison, and there’s plenty of money in evidence; but Rimini is never downright tacky. Rather, it’s a traditional family resort, to which some Italians return year after year, to stay in their customary pensione and be looked after by a hardworking padrona di casa as if they were relatives. Indeed the warmth of hoteliers in this part of Italy has undoubtedly added to the tourist industry’s success. The resort is best avoided in August, unless you feel you can cope with teeming crowds. Out of season, it’s a pleasant-enough town, but many hotels, restaurants, shops, etc, are closed and the atmosphere is almost eerily quiet.