Rimini - Tempietto di Sant'Antonio

The area was inhabited by Etruscans until the arrival of the Celts, who held it from the 6th century BC until their defeat by the Umbri in 283 BC. In 268 BC the Roman Republic founded the colonia of Ariminum. The end of Roman rule was marked by the destruction caused by invasions and wars. When the Ostrogoths conquered Rimini in 493, Odoacer, besieged in Ravenna, had to capitulate. During the Gothic War (535–554), Rimini was taken and retaken many times. Under Byzantine rule, it was part of the Exarchate of Ravenna.

In 728, it was taken with many other cities by Liutprand, King of the Lombards but returned to the Byzantines about 735. Pepin the Short gave it to the Holy See, but during the wars of the popes and the Italian cities against the emperors, Rimini sided with the latter.

The Tempietto di Sant'Antonio is a small, octagonal chapel dedicated to St Anthony of Padua

The structure was initially built here in 1518 and rebuilt in Baroque style after the earthquake of 1672. Legend has the structure was constructed to honor a Eucharistic miracle at the site.

The legend, known also as the "Miracle of the Mule", holds that, during the 13th century, St Anthony of Padua, after an impassioned public sermon, was distributing the blessed eucharist to faithful gathered in the piazza, when one citizen ignored him while walking along with his mule. The mule however miraculously and stubbornly sat prostrate in front of the saint.