Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini
1227 St. Anthony of Padua Feast, June 13
Tradition holds that a mule knelt before the Eucharist held by St. Anthony, confounding a skeptic.
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Plan your own visit How long to stay, how to get there, what to see, and what to bring. Travel guideWhat happened here
The Story
The Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini is a Catholic tradition connected with St. Anthony of Padua and dated to 1227, when the saint was preaching in Rimini, a city on Italy's Adriatic coast. The event is commemorated in the city's central square, today called Piazza Tre Martiri, where a small sixteenth-century shrine known as the Tempietto di Sant'Antonio marks the place associated with the miracle. According to the traditional account, a man of Rimini — often named Bonovillo in later tellings — denied the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and challenged St. Anthony to prove it. He proposed a test: he would keep his mule without food for three days, and if the animal, offered oats on one side and the consecrated Host on the other, turned away from the food and knelt before the Sacrament, he would believe. Tradition holds that when the day came, St. Anthony approached with the Host and the hungry mule ignored the oats, walked toward the Blessed Sacrament and bent its front legs to the ground before it. The challenger, the account continues, was converted and professed faith in the Eucharist. The story belongs to a period when preachers such as St. Anthony were confronting movements that denied the sacraments, and it became one of the most beloved episodes of his life, retold in early biographies of the saint and depicted by artists over the centuries. Whatever the historical details, the tradition expresses in vivid form the Church's faith that the consecrated Host is truly the Body of Christ, worthy of adoration. Today, visitors to Rimini can see the small shrine in Piazza Tre Martiri built to commemorate the event, and the memory of the miracle remains part of the devotional heritage surrounding St. Anthony, whose feast is celebrated on June 13. The tradition continues to invite the faithful to the same reverence before the Blessed Sacrament that, according to the account, even a humble animal was moved to show.
How to read this account
Church Recognition
A recognized devotion within the approved tradition surrounding St. Anthony of Padua, who was canonized in 1232 and later declared a Doctor of the Church; a sixteenth-century shrine in Rimini's Piazza Tre Martiri commemorates the event.
Catholic Teaching
The tradition points to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist — the Church's faith that the consecrated bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1373–1381) — and to the adoration owed to the Blessed Sacrament.
Go Deeper
The episode appears in the early lives of St. Anthony of Padua and in the Vatican-sponsored 'Eucharistic Miracles of the World' exhibition compiled by Blessed Carlo Acutis (miracolieucaristici.org). For the Church's teaching on the Real Presence, see Catechism of the Catholic Church 1373–1381.
Useful before you go
Plan Your Visit
The Pilgrim’s Quick Card
- Ideal stay
- Half Day Allow 2-4 hours for the church, miracle site, and Mass
- Best months
- Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct Comfortable weather and fewer peak-season crowds
- Nearest airport
- Bologna (BLQ) Reliable international gateway with rail onward
- Language & currency
- Italian · Euro (€) English availability varies; major shrines often assist
- Feast day
- June 13
- Accessibility
- Good Main shrine areas are generally manageable; verify locally
Plan the trip
How Long Should I Stay?
Half Day is a practical amount of time for Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini. Allow 2-4 hours for the church, miracle site, and Mass.
- Minimum: Half Day for the principal shrine or church and personal prayer.
- Recommended: Half Day so you can include Mass, the main devotional focus, and time to explore without rushing.
- Extended stay: Add a second day for a slower pace and nearby sacred sites.
Pilgrim Tip: Leave at least one unscheduled block for quiet prayer; pilgrimage sites often become most meaningful after the checklist is finished.
Best Time to Visit
Best Overall
Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct
Comfortable weather and fewer peak-season crowds.
Peak Periods
Major feast days, school holidays, summer weekends, and organized diocesan pilgrimages can bring larger crowds. Book lodging and transportation earlier if your dates overlap a major celebration.
For a Quieter Pilgrimage
Choose a weekday outside the busiest holiday period and arrive early in the day.
Feast Day
June 13 can be a particularly meaningful time to visit, but expect larger crowds and special schedules.
Pilgrim Tip: Always check the shrine calendar before booking; the most spiritually rich dates are often also the busiest.
Getting There From the United States
Best Gateway: Bologna (BLQ)
For most pilgrims traveling from the United States, Bologna (BLQ) is the most practical arrival point. Reliable international gateway with rail onward.
From the airport, continue toward Rimini by the most practical combination of rail, bus, rental car, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer. For remote shrines, a private transfer or rental car is often simpler than piecing together local connections.
Typical U.S. Routing
United States -> Bologna (BLQ) -> Rimini -> Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini
Our recommendation: Compare total travel time, not airfare alone. A slightly more expensive flight that removes a long ground transfer can make a pilgrimage much easier.
On the ground
Getting Around
You generally do not need a car once you are near Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini. The sacred site and its immediate historic center can usually be explored on foot, with local buses or taxis available for longer transfers.
A rental car is most useful if this stop is part of a wider regional pilgrimage.
Good to Know: Historic districts may restrict traffic or have limited parking, so check your lodging's arrival instructions in advance.
Where to Stay
Choose lodging in the most walkable part of Rimini, ideally within a short walk or simple transit ride of Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini. That makes it easier to attend Mass and return for prayer without losing time in traffic.
Best For Pilgrims
- Historic-center lodging near the church or shrine
- Religious guesthouses when available
- Hotels near a major transit stop
- Accessible lodging if your group has mobility needs
Pilgrim Tip: Check the actual walking route, not just the map distance; old cities can include steep streets, stairs, or cobblestones.
Accessibility
The main worship and visitor areas at Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini are generally manageable for most pilgrims, though historic thresholds, paving, or side chapels may still create barriers. Accessibility services and entrances can change, so verify current arrangements before traveling.
Pilgrim Tip: If mobility is a concern, choose lodging and transportation that minimize unnecessary walking.
What to do
Most Important Things to Do
Venerate the Eucharistic Miracle
A longstanding devotion associated with St. Anthony of Padua at Rimini.
Allow: 30-60 minutes for prayer before moving through the rest of the site.
Attend Mass
If Mass is offered during your visit, make it the center of the pilgrimage rather than an add-on. Check the official shrine or parish schedule shortly before traveling.
Understand the Devotion
Spend time in Eucharistic prayer and learn how the miracle tradition is preserved at the site today.
Explore the Church and Grounds
Look for the principal chapel, altar, crypt, museum, gardens, historic rooms, or pilgrimage route connected with the site. Allow another 45-90 minutes where available.
Pilgrim Tip: Arrive early or stay later than large tour groups when possible; the atmosphere is often much quieter.
Suggested Pilgrimage Itinerary
Half-Day Pilgrimage
- Begin at Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini and spend time in quiet prayer.
- Attend Mass if the schedule aligns with your visit.
- Visit the principal shrine, tomb, relic, apparition site, or historic chapel.
- Go to Confession when available.
- Finish with another short period of prayer before leaving.
Have more time? Add other churches and sacred sites in Rimini.
Mass, Confession & Prayer
When possible, attend Mass at the church connected with the Eucharistic miracle and spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. Confession and devotional hours vary by parish and pilgrimage season.
Use the current schedule provided by the shrine, parish, diocese, or religious community shortly before visiting.
Pilgrim Tip: Avoid building your itinerary around an old fixed Mass time. Liturgical schedules can change seasonally and on feast days.
Practical
What to Bring
Pilgrimage Essentials
- Rosary
- Small Bible or prayer book
- Written prayer intentions
- Journal and pen
- Reusable water bottle
Practical Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small backpack
- Portable phone charger
- Modest clothing for churches
- Payment card plus a small amount of Euro (€)
Pilgrim Tip: Pack lightly enough that you can spend the day walking and praying without managing unnecessary gear.
Before You Go
Before leaving:
- ✓ Check current opening hours
- ✓ Check Mass and Confession information
- ✓ Write down your prayer intentions
- ✓ Confirm airport and ground transportation
- ✓ Check the weather
- ✓ Pack comfortable walking shoes
- ✓ Confirm accessibility needs in advance
- ✓ Carry appropriate church clothing
- ✓ Leave room for quiet prayer
Most Important: Do not experience Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini only as a historic attraction. Make time for prayer, the sacraments when available, and the devotion or biblical event that gives the place its meaning.
Additional Information
A longstanding devotion associated with St. Anthony of Padua at Rimini.
Official Information
Check the shrine, parish, diocese, or custodian's official website for current opening hours, liturgies, closures, and pilgrimage notices.
Currency
Italy uses Euro (€). Carry a payment card plus a small amount of local cash for offerings, small cafés, or local transport.
Local Language
Italian is the principal language for this destination. English availability varies, but major international shrines often have multilingual staff or printed material.
Religious Etiquette
Dress respectfully, silence phones during prayer and Mass, avoid photographing worshippers at close range, and follow any local rules around relics, tombs, confessionals, or restricted chapels.
Pilgrim travel note: Mass times, opening hours, costs, accessibility, and local conditions can change. Please confirm important details directly with the shrine and your providers before you travel. Travel Disclaimer
Travel with a group
Prefer to travel with a group?
No guided pilgrimages that include Eucharistic Miracle of Rimini are listed yet. Many parishes and dioceses organize their own trips, so ask at yours.
Continue your pilgrimage
Sacred places nearby
Connected by St. Anthony of Padua
Information & sources
- Church recognition
- Church-recognized devotion · How the Church judges Eucharistic miracles
Mass times, admission and travel requirements change. Confirm them with the official source before you visit.
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