The coastal holiday city that Italy has been keeping a secret for years

A view over the river in Rimini, Italy. (PA) -

Along a path fringing the Adriatic Sea, I find families entering a play park and older couples walking hand in hand.

This is Rimini, a long-time favourite coastal resort for Italians, which is becoming more accessible to UK travellers thanks to new British Airways direct flights from Heathrow, just in time for summer.