Tempio Malatestiano

The Tempio Malatestiano, also called the Duomo, is the main church in Rimini. The Tempio di Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, was built where the Church of San Francesco once was. It was rich in paintings, however nowadays there remains only the Crocifisso by Giotto, which is also the only work by the artist in Rimini.

Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta commissioned the restoration of the facade to Leon Battista Alberti in 1450, and then extended the work to the whole church. This opera has a noteworthy historical, architectural, and cultural value. In contrast with its candid, marble facade, it nowadays presents a simple ceiling with visible beams and bricks. The main alter is modern.

The recovery of the Roman tradition is due to Alberti. In fact, there are evident references to the Arco d'Augusto and to the Ponte di Tiberio in the facade of the Temple.

Inside the church there is a portrait of Rimini in the Cappella dei Pianeti.

Beside the Tempio Malatestiano there was a cemetery in which some members of the Malatesta family were buried.