Church of San Giuliano Martire in Rimini It is situated in the centre of the ancient village of San Giuliano and is one of the most important in the city. It was restored in the mid-16th century; at that time, the building dated back to the 11th century. It was subsequently adapted to the Renaissance architectural style, a change dating from the period of the restoration.
Inside are works of great artistic significance, such as a 15th-century polyptych by Bittino, a painting by Veronese and a Roman sarcophagus, in which the saint’s remains were laid to rest until their transfer in 1910, when they were placed in an urn kept beneath the high altar.
Originally, the church was part of a Benedictine abbey built in honour of Saints Peter and Paul. It was an ideal site for a monastery, around which the settlement – the village of San Giuliano – gradually developed.
In medieval times, it probably consisted of three naves and was built in the Romanesque style; in the 13th century, it was officially dedicated to Saint Julian. In the 16th century, the monastery and the church were restored and rebuilt, after which the church featured a single nave and a style more characteristic of the Renaissance.
Inside the monastery, a series of archaeological excavations carried out in the mid-20th century brought to light the remains of the portico and the paving of what was once the cloister, along with a number of graves from a necropolis.
The façade is richly decorated with a triangular pediment, and to the left of the façade stands a brick bell tower. The walls of the church feature a Tuscan motif, and a series of arches frame the four chapels on each side, which house a number of altars, many of which were added during the 17th century.
For further information, please contact the Tourism Department of Rimini City Council, located at P.le Fellini 3. The number for the tourist information office is 0541 53399.
