01Tempio Malatestiano at a glance
A day out from Hotel Viking, the Antonioli family's 3-star hotel in Viserbella di Rimini. The Tempio Malatestiano (Malatesta Temple) is Rimini's cathedral and one of the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. The façade and sides are by Leon Battista Alberti, and inside are works by Giotto and Piero della Francesca.
From Hotel Viking in Viserbella it's about 20 minutes by car or 28 minutes by bike along the seafront, or you can take the no. 4 bus, which stops 100 metres from the hotel.
| Address | Via IV Novembre 35, 47921 Rimini RN, Italy |
|---|---|
| From the hotel by car | 6.9 km, about 20 minutes |
| By bike | 6.7 km, about 28 minutes |
| On foot | 6.6 km, about 85 minutes |
| By bus | bus no. 4 (stop 25) to the railway station, then about a 10-minute walk |
| Entrance | Entry is free. |
02History
- It stands on the site of the church of S. Maria in Trivio and, from the 13th century, of the Franciscan church of S. Francesco, which already held Malatesta tombs.
- Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta began work in 1447 with two chapels (one for himself, one for Isotta degli Atti, his third wife), then decided to transform the whole church and gave the design to Leon Battista Alberti. According to Visit Rimini it was Alberti's first work of architecture.
- The marble outer shell (1450–1460) draws on Roman architecture: the façade echoes the Arco d'Augusto, and the arches along the sides the Ponte di Tiberio. The frieze carries an inscription with the date MCCCCL (1450).
- Under the arches along the sides are seven sarcophagi holding the remains of poets, philosophers, scientists and distinguished citizens of Rimini.
- The Tempio was never finished. Work stopped around 1460–61 because of Sigismondo's conflict with Pope Pius II, who excommunicated him, and the large dome in the design was never built.
03What to see
Inside you'll see the Crucifix painted by Giotto around 1300 (his only work in Rimini) and Piero della Francesca's 1451 fresco of Sigismondo kneeling before Saint Sigismund.
The sculptures are attributed to Agostino di Duccio, and the architecture and decoration of the chapels are by Matteo de' Pasti of Verona. The intertwined initials "SI" and Malatesta emblems such as the elephant and the rose appear everywhere.
In 1809, after the Napoleonic suppressions and the destruction of the old cathedral of Santa Colomba, the Tempio became the city's cathedral.
Badly damaged by bombing in the Second World War, it was rebuilt partly with help from an American committee and reconsecrated in 1950. It has been a national monument since 1940 and a minor basilica since 24 June 2002.
There's also a canvas by Giorgio Vasari of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata (1548).
Sources: Comune di Rimini · Visit Rimini · Tempio Malatestiano · Diocesi di Rimini · Wikipedia. Information checked in October 2026.
04Visitor information
Entry is free. Opening times given by tempiomalatestiano.it (checked October 2026): Monday–Friday 8:30–12:00 and 15:30–18:30; Saturday 8:30–12:30 and 15:30–19:00; Sunday 9:00–12:30 and 15:30–18:30. Sightseeing is suspended from half an hour before Mass until it ends (Sundays and holidays at 11:00 and 17:30; weekdays and the eve of holidays at 17:30; according to the Diocese the 11:00 Sunday Mass is suspended from June to August). The Diocese's page gives slightly different times (daily 8:30–12:00 and 15:30–18:00): opening times may change. Wheelchair access is to the left of the main doorway. A free interactive guide is available as an app (app.tempiomalatestiano.it).
Opening times and prices may change: always check the official website before you go.
Sources: Tempio Malatestiano · Diocesi di Rimini · Comune di Rimini. Information checked in October 2026.
05How to get there from Hotel Viking
By car: 6.9 km, about 20 minutes depending on traffic. The old town is a limited traffic zone, so leave the car in one of the public car parks on the edge of the centre. Your space at the hotel stays reserved in our private car park.
By bike: 6.7 km, about 28 minutes, almost all on the Parco del Mare cycle path into Rimini. The hotel has bike storage, and there are bikes to hire along the way and a bike-hire shop 1.5 km away (cycling holidays).
By bus: the no. 4 stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and runs to Rimini railway station. From there it’s about 10 minutes on foot.
06Nearby
- Piazza Tre Martiri (~230 m, about a 3-minute walk)
- Arco d'Augusto (~300 m, about a 4–5-minute walk)
- Piazza Cavour (~330 m, about a 5-minute walk)
- Castel Sismondo and Fellini Museum (~530 m, about a 7-minute walk)
- Ponte di Tiberio (~700 m, about a 10-minute walk)
- Arco d’Augusto
- Domus del Chirurgo
- Castel Sismondo
More ideas on our things to do in Rimini, events in Rimini and inland hills and villages pages.
07What our guests say
What guests say about the hotel's location and days out.
Handy for everything
«excellent location, close to everything, the sea included, but on a quiet street.»
Day trips
«You can book trips inland with the help of the reception staff»
08FAQ
Who designed the Tempio Malatestiano?
Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta commissioned Leon Battista Alberti to design the conversion. Alberti created the outer shell, inspired by the Arco d'Augusto (Arch of Augustus) and the Ponte di Tiberio, while the interior decoration is by Matteo de' Pasti and Agostino di Duccio.
How much does it cost to enter the Tempio Malatestiano?
Nothing: entry is free, but you can't look round during services (from half an hour before Mass until it ends).
How far is Hotel Viking from the Tempio Malatestiano?
6.9 km: about 20 minutes by car, or 28 minutes by bike along the seafront.
How do you get to the Tempio Malatestiano without a car?
By bus no. 4, which stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and runs to Rimini railway station, or by bike along the Parco del Mare cycle path.
Do you need a ticket for the Tempio Malatestiano?
Entry is free.
Where can I stay nearby?
Hotel Viking in Viserbella is a 3-star hotel 150 metres from the sea, with a pool, private car park and Romagna cooking, a few minutes from the centre of Rimini.
