About Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta (1417–1468):
The story of this Cathedral is intertwined with that of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, who wanted to turn it into a grand mausoleum for himself, his beloved mistress (and later wife) Isotta degli Atti, and his family—blending pagan-inspired grandeur with Christian elements in a way that shocked some contemporaries partly due to rumors and scandals tied to his life and this project.
On 25 December 1460, a famous trial in absentia was held in Rome against Sigismondo. Pope Pius II, who considered him guilty of treachery towards Siena arising from his long-running feud with Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, excommunicated him, declaring him a heretic and attributing to Sigismondo a series of sins (incest, sodomy against his son Roberto and others) which smeared his reputation for centuries.
In a unique ceremony, he was canonized into Hell with the curse “No mortal heretofore has descended into Hell with the ceremony of canonization. Sigi shall be the first deemed worthy of such honour.”
About Tempio Malatestiano (Cathedral Basilica of Santa Colomba) in Remini, Italy:
The Tempio Malatestiano (Cathedral Basilica of Santa Colomba) is one of the most remarkable and iconic buildings in Rimini, Italy. It’s often hailed as a masterpiece of early Renaissance architecture and a bold personal monument built by the controversial lord of Rimini. Originally a 13th-century Gothic church dedicated to St. Francis, it was radically transformed starting around 1447–1450 under the patronage of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta (1417–1468), the powerful (and often ruthless) condottiero and ruler of Rimini.
The redesign of the Cathedral was entrusted to the brilliant Renaissance humanist and architect Leon Battista Alberti, for whom this was his first major ecclesiastical work. Alberti drew inspiration from classical Roman architecture (like triumphal arches and ancient temples), encasing the old Gothic structure in a new marble shell.
Work stalled after Sigismondo’s death in 1468, leaving the ambitious façade and planned dome unfinished—yet the result remains one of the most innovative and influential buildings of the 15th century Italian Renaissance.
The exterior is Alberti’s most striking contribution: a clean, monumental white Istrian stone façade that evokes ancient Roman triumphal arches. It features massive rounded arches, Corinthian pilasters, and a rhythmic arcade of blind arches along the sides. The Latin inscription proudly declares Sigismondo’s patronage: “Sigismundus Pandulfus Malatesta… fecit” (Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta had this made).
The upper part remains incomplete—no grand pediment or dome was ever added, giving it a raw, almost modern minimalist feel, despite its age. Inside, the Gothic structure is overlaid with lavish Renaissance decoration by artists like Agostino di Duccio (exquisite low-relief sculptures of mythological scenes, zodiac signs, elephants—the Malatesta emblem—and putti) and Matteo de’ Pasti.
Key treasures include:A famous fresco by Piero della Francesca (c. 1451) in one of the chapels, showing Sigismondo kneeling in prayer before St. Sigismund— a rare surviving work by the master in a church setting.
Giotto’s early Crucifix (c. 1310–1315), brought here from another church and now above the high altar.
Elaborate tombs, chapels with intricate marble reliefs (elephants supporting sarcophagi, astrological motifs, and scenes celebrating Sigismondo and Isotta’s love).
The overall effect mixes solemn religious space with triumphant, almost pagan humanism.
Traveling to Tempio Malatestiano (Cathedral Basilica of Santa Colomba) in Remini, Italy:
The Basilica is in Rimini’s historic center—easy to combine with the nearby Arch of Augustus, Tiberius Bridge, and Piazza Cavour. The Basilica isgenerally open daily. Mass times vary; often around 11 AM and 5:30 PM on Sundays/holidays).
Address: Via IV Novembre 35, Rimini