Repeated Vandalism of Church and Convent in Rimini

Country: Italy

Date of incident: April 22, 2018


The convent and church of Sorelle Povere di S. Chiara (Poor Clares) in the Piazzetta of San Bernardino in Rimini has been the victim of repeated vandalism. Most recently, on April 22nd, the glass door of the church was smashed for the fourth time in a few months.

Despite the petitions of Rimini residents and repeated requests by the Poor Clares for the city to intervene and to install video surveillance, the attacks on the convent have continued and no cameras have been installed.

According to the Mother Superior of the convent, the Piazzetta San Bernardino looked like a battlefield on the morning of April 22nd. Waste and fragments of broken glass were everywhere, and once again someone broke the glass door of the church.

The Piazzetta de San Bernardino was renovated in 2014 and, since then, young people have used it as a gathering point at night. The square and the walls of the houses and the convent are covered with graffiti. 

For the Poor Clares it is a matter of respect, "not only for the church and the convent, but for the whole area that has been redeveloped."

Source: Il Resto del Carlino