Page 272 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

270 І CENTR AL IT AL Y

and debauched men of his time.
Ostensibly designed as a chapel,
the Tempio became little more
than a monument to Malatesta.
Inside are sculptures by Agostino
di Duccio and a fresco (1451)
by Piero della Francesca of
Malatesta kneeling before
St Sigismund (1451).
The entwined initials of
Malatesta and his fourth wife,
Isotta degli Atti, provide a
recurring decorative motif, and
there are reliefs depicting scenes
of bacchanalian excess and
oddities such as strangely posed
elephants (a Malatesta family
Fresco of Malatesta and St Sigismund (1451) by Piero della Francesca in the Tempio emblem). All this led Pope Pius II
Malatestiano, Rimini to condemn the building as “a
temple of devil-worshippers”, and
8 Faenza director born and raised here. to burn Malatesta’s effigy for acts
Today it is the largest beach of “murder, violation, adultery,
Ravenna. * 54,000. V @
n Voltone Molinella 2 (0546 252 31). resort in Europe. The seafront, incest, sacrilege and perjury”.
( Tue, Thu & Sat. which stretches unbroken for
almost 15 km (9 miles), is lined Environs
Faenza is synonymous with the with clubs, bars and restaurants. Further along the coast, the
faïence ceramic-ware to which The crowded beaches are clean resorts become relatively quieter.
it gave its name. Renowned and well groomed, though Cesenatico, 18 km (11 miles)
across Europe for over 500 years, entrance fees are charged at north, offers all the usual facilities,
the pottery, with its distinctive private beaches. yet the beaches are less crowded.
blue and ochre colouring, is still The town’s old quarter, by
made in countless small contrast, is pleasantly quiet. P Tempio Malatestiano
factories around the town. Its charming cobbled streets Via IV Novembre. Tel 0541 511 30. Open
The highlight of Faenza is the gather around Piazza Cavour, 8:30am–12:30pm, 3:30–7pm daily
Museo Internazionale delle dominated by the 14th-century (9am–12:30pm, 3:30–6:30pm Sun). 7
Ceramiche, one of the largest Palazzo del Podestà. Rimini’s
ceramic collections in Italy. finest building is the Tempio
Its exhibits feature not only Malatestiano, built as a 0 Po Delta
examples of local ware, but Franciscan church but converted Ferrara. V Ferrara Ostellata. @ to
also pottery from other in 1450 by Leon Battista Alberti, Goro or Gorino. g from Porto
countries and other periods, the great Florentine architect, Garibaldi, Goro & Gorino. n Via
including Roman ceramics into one of Italy’s great Renais- Mazzini 4, Comacchio (0533 31 41 54).
and medieval majolica. There is sance monuments. The work Parco Delta del Po: Tel 0533 31 40 03.
also a section devoted to the was commissioned by ∑ parcodeltapo.it
modern ceramic art of Picasso, Sigismondo Malatesta (1417–
Matisse and Chagall. 68), a descendant of Rimini’s The Po is Italy’s longest river. Its
ruling medieval family, and vast basin covers some 15 per
E Museo Internazionale reputedly one of the most evil cent of the country and
delle Ceramiche
Viale Baccarini 19. Tel 0546 69 73 11.
Open Apr–Oct: Tue–Sun; Nov–Mar:
Tue–Sun (Tue–Thu am only). Closed
1 Jan, 1 May, 15 Aug, 25 Dec. 7 &

9 Rimini
* 140,000. V @ n Piazzale Fellini
3 (0541 70 45 87). ( Wed & Sat.
∑ riminiturismo.it
Rimini was once a quaint seaside
resort, whose charms were
celebrated in the early films of
Federico Fellini (1920–93), the Façade of the Renaissance Tempio Malatestiano in Rimini
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.3)
Date 13th June 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm