La Church of Santa Maria dei Servi, officially known as the Church of Santa Maria in Corte, is one of the most fascinating historic places of worship in the centre of Rimini. Situated in the picturesque Piazzetta dei Servi, at the end of Corso d’Augusto Just a short walk from the Tiberius Bridge, this Catholic church is an important architectural and artistic monument in the city of Rimini.
Origins and history
The church was founded in 1317 on a plot of land donated at the beginning of the 14th century by the Malatesta family to the Servites of Mary, a mendicant order which was widespread in many Italian cities at the time, from which the popular name ‘dei Servi’ derives. Initially, at the In the centre there was just a chapel, but the monks soon expanded the building to meet the local community’s growing devotional needs.
Over the centuries The building was altered on several occasions. Between 1774 and 1777, it was completely refurbished according to a design by the Bolognese architect Gaetano Stegani, with a rich Baroque interior decoration also carried out by the Rimini-based plasterer Antonio Trentanove.
Following the suppression of the Order of the Servants of Mary in 1798, the church briefly passed to the Dominicans; subsequently, from 1806, it became a parish church under the title of Santa Maria in Corte. The current façade It was rebuilt in 1894 to a design by by Engineer Giuseppe Urbani.
Next to the building, along Corso d’Augusto, stands the former church of Santa Maria ad Nives, which once formed part of the city’s hospital complex.
Architecture and decoration
The church is as follows externally, with a simple and understated appearance, typical of many medieval buildings that were renovated in later centuries. Its location, nestled amongst the historic buildings of Rimini and the decumanus maximus of the ancient Roman city makes it a hidden yet charming gem in the historic centre.
Inside, at single-nave, a vast space opens up, decorated with stucco work, gilding and many fine works of art which reflect the stylistic evolution from the Baroque at late 18th century. Among the main altars and works of art, visitors can admire:
- Altar of St Augustine – The Madonna of Reggio, venerated by Saints Augustine and Monica, by Lucio Massari (1620)
- Altar of St Luke – Saint Luke Depicting the Virgin and Child, by Giovan Battista Costa (1744)
- Altar of the Immaculate Conception – The Immaculate Conception, a painting by Pietro Tedeschi (1783)
- Altar of Saint Pellegrino Graziosi – ‘View of San Pellegrino Laziosi’, by Gaetano Gandolfi (1784)
- A 16th-century fragment depicting Christ, from the Monte di Pietà
According to some sources, the church is also said to have housed a illustration by Benedetto Coda dating from 1513, depicting Our Lady of the Rosary flanked by Saints Dominic and Francis, brought here by the Dominicans during the period when the order was based at the church.
The interior walls and vaults also display a a rich combination of 18th-century stucco work and gilding, often attributed to the work of the Samoggia and other artists of the period, who together create a Baroque atmosphere of great visual impact.
Why visit it
The Church of Santa Maria dei Servi is a a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Baroque periodwith 14th-century roots and an artistic style that is the result of 17th- and 18th-century renovations. Its location, just a stone’s throw from the Tiberius Bridge and nestled within the urban fabric of the historic centre, makes it an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Rimini not only as a seaside resort, but also as a city of art.
Many visitors appreciate its sumptuous and harmonious Baroque décor, as well as the quality of the artworks on display, which offer an insight into artistic production in Rimini between the 17th and 18th centuries.
Practical information
- Address: Piazzetta dei Servi, 1 – Corso d’Augusto, Rimini (RN)
- Entrance: free (usually) and open to visitors during the opening hours of the town’s churches
- It is situated a short distance from the Tiberius Bridge and the Arch of Augustus, in the heart of Rome’s historic centre.
