There are places that don’t need much explanation.
In Rimini, the Pizzeria del Secolo is one of them. It’s on Via Gambalunga, in the historic center, a few steps from the main squares, the Biblioteca Gambalunga, the shopping streets, and that everyday Rimini that tourists often pass through without really noticing.
It’s not a restaurant you need to book. It’s not a place you photograph before you even eat. It’s not a novelty built to seem authentic. It’s a pizza-by-the-slice shop, open since 1954, which for generations of Rimini locals has been a simple answer to an even simpler question: “Shall we grab a slice of pizza?”
And sometimes, that’s exactly how you best understand a city.
Because Rimini isn’t just the sea, hotels, beach, and seafront. Rimini is also a hot slice eaten standing up, a break between errands, a quick lunch before heading back to the office, an after-school snack, a bite before returning to Borgo San Giuliano or the station.
The Pizzeria del Secolo tells this side of Rimini: less scenic, more real.
A pizza-by-the-slice shop since 1954
The Pizzeria del Secolo is a historic shop and has been part of the city’s life since 1954. That’s no small detail. It means this small address in the center has gone through decades of change: post-war Rimini, the tourist boom, packed summers, food trends, the changing face of the center, locals growing up and then returning with their children.
A historic pizza-by-the-slice shop doesn’t just live on recipes. It lives on habit.
You go because you already know what to expect. Because maybe you went there as a kid. Because someone took you there for the first time. Because you’re in the center and don’t feel like sitting down at a table. Because you want something hot, quick, and familiar.
This kind of place has a special value in a tourist city. It’s not designed just for visitors, even though tourists certainly stop by. It’s first and foremost an address that locals know, and for anyone visiting Rimini, that’s already an important clue.
When a place lasts this long, it almost always means it’s not just telling its own story. It’s telling a piece of the city.
Why it’s a historic center spot
Location matters.
Via Gambalunga is one of those streets that makes you realize Rimini’s center isn’t a backdrop, but a lived-in place. You’re near Piazza Cavour, Piazza Tre Martiri, the Teatro Galli, the Biblioteca Gambalunga, and the streets where you walk without hurry as the sun begins to set.
The Pizzeria del Secolo fits into this geography. You don’t have to go far out of your way, you don’t need to plan a complicated itinerary. It can become a natural stop during a stroll.
It’s perfect if you’re visiting the historic center and want to eat something without turning the break into a long lunch. It’s convenient if you’re coming from the station and want to start walking toward the heart of the city. It’s useful if you’re in the center for work, shopping, an appointment, or a quick visit.
And then there’s a simple but decisive aspect: pizza by the slice adapts to the city’s rhythm. It doesn’t ask for formality. You walk in, choose, eat, and move on. Or you stop for a moment and let the center do the rest.
What to eat at Pizzeria del Secolo
The offering is classic for a pizza-by-the-slice shop: takeaway pizza, pizza by the slice, sheet pan pizza, red pizzas, white pizzas, simple and richer toppings, drinks, and coffee.
Among the varieties, you’ll find pizzas with tomato, tomato and mozzarella, sausage, mushrooms, radicchio, artichokes, and other heartier flavors. But the important thing isn’t just how many flavors there are: it’s how a slice becomes a small habit of the center.
The point, however, isn’t to list all the flavors.
The point is to understand that here, pizza works the way many good things in daily life work: without needing too many words. You choose a slice, maybe a simple one, maybe one with more toppings, and you eat it at the right moment.
If it’s your first visit, I’d start with something familiar: tomato and mozzarella, mushrooms, a white pizza with vegetables, or a classic topping that catches your eye at the counter. There’s no need to look for the most unusual option. In a place like this, the best test is often simplicity.
The beauty of pizza by the slice in Rimini
Pizza by the slice isn’t an experience to describe in solemn tones. And maybe that’s why it works so well.
It’s democratic. It works for the student, for someone working in the center, for a couple out for a walk, for a tourist who’s hungry outside regular hours, for someone in Rimini for a trade fair with only half an hour free, for anyone who wants to eat something before catching a train.
It doesn’t claim to represent all of Rimini’s cuisine. It doesn’t replace a piadina, a cassone, a fish dish, or a Romagna dinner. But it adds a different piece: that of the city on the move.
There are foods that tell the story of celebration and foods that tell the story of habit. Pizza by the slice tells the story of habit. And habits, when they last for decades, become memory.
That’s why the Pizzeria del Secolo deserves attention. Not because you absolutely have to go there like you’d visit a monument, but because if you pass by and you’re hungry, it’s worth stopping. Even just to understand what a city eats when it doesn’t want to pose.
When to go
The best time depends on how you’re experiencing Rimini.
If you’re in the center mid-morning or at lunchtime, it can be a quick stop before continuing toward Piazza Cavour, the Teatro Galli, or the Ponte di Tiberio. If you arrive in the afternoon, it works as a savory snack, especially if you then want to walk to Borgo San Giuliano. If you’re here for work, it can solve a break without wasting time.
Typically, it’s open Monday to Saturday, from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM, closed on Sundays. As always, before planning a specific stop, it’s a good idea to check for any changes in hours.
A good idea is to include it in a short walk:
- Start from the station or Piazza Tre Martiri.
- Pass by Via Gambalunga and stop for a slice.
- Continue toward Piazza Cavour, taking in the Teatro Galli and the Fontana della Pigna.
- Extend your walk to the Vecchia Pescheria, especially in the late afternoon.
- End at the Ponte di Tiberio or enter Borgo San Giuliano.
It’s a simple route, but it works. It shows you a different Rimini from the beach and leaves you with a concrete memory: the taste of a well-spent break.
For those on vacation in Rimini
If you’re in Rimini for the sea, you might only make it to the center one evening or on a day with uncertain weather. In that case, the Pizzeria del Secolo can be a small, hassle-free stop.
You don’t need to make it the centerpiece of your day. It’s better to see it for what it is: a historic address where you can grab something on the go while exploring the center. A simple stop, not an overblown promise.
The difference is made by the context. A slice eaten on Via Gambalunga, before reaching Piazza Cavour or after a visit to the Biblioteca Gambalunga, tastes different from a pizza grabbed at some random place. Not because the street works miracles, but because it places you inside a more everyday Rimini.
For those in Rimini for work
Rimini is also a city of trade fairs, conferences, meetings, appointments, and business trips. Not everyone has time for a leisurely sit-down lunch or to build a full tourist itinerary.
For those here for work, a stop like this is useful precisely because it’s practical. It lets you eat something local, stay in the center, not waste too much time, and maybe treat yourself to ten minutes of real city life between commitments.
If you have a short break, you can grab a slice and take a few steps toward Piazza Cavour. If you have an hour free, you can link the stop to the Teatro Galli, the Vecchia Pescheria, and the Ponte di Tiberio. It’s not a big organized experience. It’s a smart way to make sure Rimini doesn’t remain just the place of the appointment on your schedule.
Why include it in a center itinerary
When writing about Rimini, there’s always the risk of dividing the city in two: on one side the beach, on the other the monuments. But in between are the habits. And without habits, a city becomes a postcard.
The Pizzeria del Secolo is interesting precisely because it sits in that middle ground. It’s not a monument, but it has memory. It’s not a typical restaurant in the classic sense, but it’s a historic address. It’s not a must-see for everyone, but it’s one of those places that give substance to a walk.
If you want to get to know Rimini a little better, you also need to step into places like this: small, practical, frequented, seemingly ordinary. They’re the ones that hold together the past and the present without making a fuss.
Practical information
- Name: Pizzeria del Secolo
- Location: Via Alessandro Gambalunga 14, Rimini historic center
- What you’ll find: pizza by the slice, takeaway pizza, sheet pan pizza, drinks, and coffee
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM; closed Sunday, subject to changes
- Ideal for: a quick break in the center, informal lunch, savory snack, a stop before or after a walk
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about Pizzeria del Secolo in Rimini
Where is Pizzeria del Secolo located?
It’s located at Via Alessandro Gambalunga 14, in the historic center of Rimini, near the city’s main squares and not far from the station.
How long has it been around?
The Pizzeria del Secolo has been open since 1954 and is one of the historic shops tied to the life of Rimini’s center.
Is it suitable for a quick break?
Yes. It’s a pizza-by-the-slice and takeaway shop, so it’s suitable for anyone who wants to eat something quickly while visiting the historic center.
Is it a good stop for visitors to Rimini?
Yes, especially if you want to include a historic and everyday address in your walk, one frequented by generations of Rimini locals.
What places can I see nearby?
Nearby, you can reach Piazza Cavour, Piazza Tre Martiri, the Teatro Galli, the Vecchia Pescheria, the Ponte di Tiberio, and Borgo San Giuliano.
The Pizzeria del Secolo isn’t a place to describe with big special effects. It’s a simple, historic, central address that lives in the memory of those who truly frequent Rimini.
If you pass through the historic center and feel like a quick stop, stopping here makes sense. Not just to eat a slice of pizza, but to step for a few minutes into a Rimini made of habits, breaks, generations, and streets that don’t need to raise their voices.
You know where to find me. At the Aqua Hotel.
Read also
If you’re in the center and want to turn a quick stop into a more complete walk, you can continue from here.
- Rimini in a free morning: useful if you want to connect the historic center, Borgo San Giuliano, and the port without using a car.
- Vecchia Pescheria in Rimini: perfect after a slice, because it’s nearby and tells another piece of everyday Rimini.
- Cassone romagnolo in Rimini: if you want to stick with simple, hot, local food, but with a more Romagna flavor.
