Malatesta Temple

Rimini's Malatesta Temple was conceived by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta as a memorial tomb for his family, and still houses a wooden crucifix painted by Giotto.

Everything around Rimini and its region, including the Malatesta Temple, once belonged to the Signoria dei Malatesta. Like their emblem, that allies the elephant and the rose, the family were both very refined and at times very hard-headed people. Tragedy struck in 1285 when Gianni Malatesta had his brother Paolo and his own wife Francesca da Rimini assassinated after discovering their affair.

Another character full of charm and wit, Sigismond I Malatesta was ferociously in love with his mistress Isotta, to whom he dedicated the Malatesta Temple. Legend has it that he repudiated his first wife, poisoned the second and strangled the third in order to marry her. A cultivated man, he was also patron to many artists such as Piero della Francesca, Ghirlandaio and Pisanello.

The Malatesta Temple was designed by Leon Battista Alberti and Matteo dei Pasti and Agostino di Duccio created the bas-relief decorations in the chapels, which highlight the dominant personality of the commissioner who was celebrated by Piero della Francesca in his fresco of the Prince and San Sigismondo.

Recently consecrated a basilica, Rimini's Malatesta Temple has undergone restorations which have returned the marble and bright colours of the interior chapels to their former splendour.