Rimini Convent of Santo Spirito Closes After Eight Centuries

The Capuchin convent of Santo Spirito in Rimini announced on 5 August 2026 that it will close in September, ending nearly eight centuries of Franciscan presence in the city. The decision, taken by the Order’s superiors, cites a long‑term decline in vocations and the need to rationalise resources; the four friars currently living at the complex on Via della Fiera will leave the site.

Local faithful responded strongly, gathering more than 2,000 signatures in an attempt to reverse the closure. While the convent’s religious functions will cease, the charitable soup kitchen for the poor, run by the Opera Sant'Antonio, will continue. The Rimini Diocese is considering taking over the building, possibly renting it for social‑assistance projects, to preserve its historic role in community support.