Monuments
Arco di Papa Clemente
In the centre of Santarcangelo di Romagna, in Piazza Ganganelli, stands an imposing structure that marks the monumental entrance to the town.
The Arco di Papa Clemente stands in Piazza Ganganelli, in the centre of Santarcangelo di Romagna. It is a very imposing structure that marks the entrance to the town; on either side of the arch you can see two pairs of white marble columns topped by two inscriptions commemorating the town's illustrious citizen. The original design called for a statue of the Pope, which was never built; in its place, a tiara and a papal coat of arms were placed at the top of the arch.
Good to know
- The arch is dedicated to Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, born in Santarcangelo di Romagna in 1705 and elected pope in 1769 under the name Clemente XIV. Construction began the year of his election but was completed only three years after the pontiff's death, in 1777.
- On 11 November, during the Fiera di San Martino (or Fiera dei Becchi), it is traditional to hang a pair of horns on the arch. Legend has it that walking underneath reveals whether you have been betrayed: if the horns move, you should worry.
More monuments in Santarcangelo di Romagna
Pieve di San Michele ArcangeloThe Pieve di San Michele Arcangelo is the oldest place of worship in the province of Rimini. Built in the 6th century following the model of the churches of...Read more
Rocca Malatestiana di SantarcangeloA castle residence that once belonged to the Malatesta family's estates, massive in appearance with polygonal corner towers and a large garden.Read more
Torre campanariaStanding 25 metres tall, it was built in 1893 in neo-Gothic style and is notable for its clock, its battlements and the wrought-iron weathervane bearing the...Read more