The Temple of Malatesta is the Cathedral of Rimini, which is rightfully considered the true pearl of the Italian Renaissance. It is located in the city center on the very spot where the Gothic church of St. Francis stood until the 13th century. A wooden crucifix by Giotto of the early 14th century has survived from her to our time - the only creation of this master, stored in Rimini.

Despite its relatively small size, the church was chosen as the burial place of the family of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. The sarcophagi of Sigismondo himself and his third wife, Isotta degli Atti, were installed in the chapel.
In 1449 Malatesta undertook a radical restructuring of the church. The project was entrusted to the great architect Leon Battista Alberti, who made sure that ancient Roman traditions were preserved in the architecture of the temple. He created a magnificent marble body around the ancient church, which allowed the previous building to be preserved. Initially, the construction did not provide for either a cross or the image of any saint, hence the name of the church, which expressed the dedication directly to the Malatesta family.

The number of pagan attributes in this temple is such that Pope Pius II recorded in his Notes: “A worthy temple was built in Rimini in honor of St. Francis, but it is filled with so many pagan creations that it seems not a Christian temple, but a haven for infidels who worship demons ".

In 2000, the temple of Malatesta was restored.