Find out why there’s controversy embedded in the superb classical architecture of this stunning cathedral.
Admire the grand marble façade and classical arches of the Tempio Malatestiano’s stunning exterior. Explore the nave and you will discover a wealth of fine artwork, including statues and colorful reliefs. Learn why the cathedral was a source of great controversy at the time it was built and look for evidence of this within the cathedral’s walls.
A church dedicated to St. Francis already existed on the site of the Tempio Malatestiano. Around 1450, however, the prince of Rimini, Sigismondo Malatesta, ordered it be redesigned. He commissioned the architect Leon Alberti for the task, and the result was an architectural revolution. Alberti’s cathedral was one of the first churches to incorporate classical styles, but the design’s monuments to Malatesta and his mistress Isotta degli Atti lead many people, including Pope Pius II, to believe it was a pagan building.
Stand before the Tempio Malatestiano and appreciate the wide marble façade. Examine the high arch of the entranceway and you will notice similarities between this and the Arch of Augustus, especially around the base. Walk around the sides of the cathedral and see the arches shaped like Roman aqueducts. These are some of the classical elements that made the reconstruction of this cathedral so innovative.
Step inside the wide nave to see more arches lining the sides of the altar. Discover the intricate Gothic crucifix above the altar and the craftsmanship of the statues of dancing angels. Explore the seven chapels to your right, each of which contains the tomb of a prominent citizen from Rimini.
Look around the interior to discover the details that made the structure so controversial. See the crests combining the intertwined letters S and I, which some contend stand for Sigmondo and Isotta. Don’t miss the fresco depicting Maletesta kneeling before St. Sigmondo. Painted by Piero della Francesca, the fresco is said by many to be proof of Malatesta’s vanity.
The Tempio Malatestiano is located in central Rimini close to the main train station. It is open daily and is free to enter.
