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 takes about 20 minutes by car, 28 minutes by bike along the seafront, or you can take bus no. 4, 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 | Free admission. |
02History
- It stands on the site of the church of S. Maria in Trivio and, from the 13th century, the Franciscan church of S. Francesco, which already held Malatesta tombs.
- Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta began work in 1447 with two chapels (for himself and for Isotta degli Atti, his third wife), then decided to transform the whole church, entrusting the design to Leon Battista Alberti. According to Visit Rimini it is Alberti's first architectural work.
- The marble outer casing (1450–1460) draws on Roman architecture: the façade recalls the Arco d'Augusto, the arches along the sides the Ponte di Tiberio. The frieze bears an inscription with the date MCCCCL (1450).
- Along the sides, beneath the arches, are seven sarcophagi containing the remains of poets, philosophers, scientists and distinguished citizens of Rimini.
- The Tempio was never finished: work stopped around 1460–61 because of the conflict between Sigismondo and Pope Pius II, who excommunicated him. The design included a large dome that was never built.
03What to see
Inside are the Crucifix painted by Giotto around 1300 (the artist's only work in Rimini) and Piero della Francesca's 1451 fresco showing Sigismondo kneeling before Saint Sigismund.
The sculptures are attributed to Agostino di Duccio; the architectural and decorative scheme of the chapels is by Matteo de' Pasti from Verona. The intertwined initials "SI" and Malatesta symbols such as the elephant and the rose appear throughout.
In 1809, after the Napoleonic suppressions and the destruction of the old cathedral of Santa Colomba, the Tempio became the city's cathedral.
Badly hit by bombing in the Second World War, it was rebuilt partly with the help of an American committee and reconsecrated in 1950. It has been a minor basilica since 24 June 2002 and a national monument since 1940.
It also holds 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
Free admission. 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 visits are 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 on the left-hand side of the main doorway. A free interactive guide is available via 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: it's 6.9 km, about 20 minutes depending on traffic. The old town is a limited traffic zone, so it's best to leave the car in one of the public car parks on the edge of the centre. Your parking space at the hotel stays reserved in the 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, there are bikes to hire along the way and a bike-hire shop 1.5 km away (cycling holidays).
By bus: bus no. 4 stops 100 metres from the hotel (stop 25) and goes to Rimini railway station; from there it’s about a 10-minute walk.
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 hilltop villages pages.
07What our guests say
What our guests say about the hotel's location and day trips.
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 entrusted the design of the transformation to Leon Battista Alberti, who created the outer casing inspired by the Arco d'Augusto (Arch of Augustus) and the Ponte di Tiberio; the interior decoration is by Matteo de' Pasti and Agostino di Duccio.
How much does it cost to enter the Tempio Malatestiano?
Nothing: admission is free, but visits are not allowed 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?
Free admission.
Where to stay nearby?
At Hotel Viking in Viserbella, a 3-star hotel 100 metres from the sea with a pool, private car park and Romagna cooking, just a few minutes from the centre of Rimini.
