Chiesa dei Paolotti (Paolotti Church), Rimini

The Church of San Francesco da Paola, commonly known as the Paolotti Church, is a historic and religious landmark located in the heart of Rimini's historic center, on the eastern side of Three Martyrs Square (Piazza Tre Martiri). The current structure, rebuilt in the 1960s, stands on the ruins of a Baroque church destroyed during World War II. Its interior features frescoes painted by Achille Funi and his students, showcasing the miracles and spiritual narratives associated with Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Francis of Paola.

The church's apse celebrates two significant miracles of Saint Anthony of Padua. One fresco depicts the "Miracle of the Fish," where fish flocked to the shore to listen to the saint’s sermon, and the other illustrates the "Miracle of the Mule," where a starving mule knelt before the Eucharist, rejecting fodder in reverence. Adjacent to the altar, a painting by Giuseppe Viola narrates Saint Francis of Paola's miraculous crossing of the Strait of Messina on his cloak, emphasizing his spiritual legacy.

Directly in front of the church stands the Temple of Sant'Antonio, a small octagonal sanctuary built in 1518 by Pietro Ricciardelli to commemorate the "Miracle of the Mule." According to tradition, in 1223, Saint Anthony engaged in a theological dispute with a heretic who doubted the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The saint orchestrated a public test where a fasting mule, presented with fodder, instead knelt before the consecrated host, prompting the heretic's conversion. The chapel, rebuilt in the Baroque period after the 1672 earthquake, stands as a tribute to this Eucharistic miracle.

The Church of San Francesco da Paola and its accompanying temple encapsulate Rimini's spiritual history and resilience. They serve not only as sites of worship but also as repositories of local legend and artistry, drawing visitors and pilgrims alike to marvel at their storied past and intricate frescoes.