Tempio Malatestiano

Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, lord of Rimini, had Leon Battista Alberti case an existing Gothic church in a new marble skin from around 1450, modelled on the Roman triumphal arch that still stands in the town, with deep side arches meant to hold sarcophagi. It was among the first buildings to apply classical architecture systematically to a church. The work stopped when Sigismondo's fortunes collapsed, and the facade is visibly incomplete, cut off above the entablature with brick showing. Inside are Agostino di Duccio's reliefs, a crucifix by Giotto and a fresco by Piero della Francesca. The tomb of Sigismondo's wife Isotta is here.

History

Two churches stood here before, a 9th-century church of Santa Maria in Trivio and the 13th-century Gothic church of St Francis, whose central apse was probably frescoed by Giotto, to whom the crucifix inside is also attributed. Alberti's transformation, carried out by Matteo de' Pasti, was meant as a mausoleum for Sigismondo Malatesta and Isotta degli Atti, and marble for it was taken from Roman ruins at Sant'Apollinare in Classe and at Fano (Wikipedia, Tempio Malatestiano).

Highlights

• Alberti's marble shell - a Roman-derived casing over a Gothic church.
• The unfinished facade - the front cut off in brick above the entablature.
• The Duccio reliefs - carved chapels of planets, arts and sibyls.
• The Giotto crucifix - an early panel hanging in the nave.

When to go

Year-round; the church closes during services and for a midday break. Rimini is busiest in summer when the coast fills, but the church rarely is.

Good to know

It is one building, seen in under an hour. The facade's incompleteness surprises people expecting a finished Renaissance front. Lighting inside is dim.

Nearby

The Roman arch and bridge are close; San Leo lies inland.

Key facts