San Marino was founded in 301 and is probably the oldest still existing republic with the oldest still used constitution (established in 1600). The country only has 30,000 inhabitants – much less then most European cities – and is fully surrounded by Italy. Official language is Italian, currency is the Euro; but the country is not part of the European Union (only of the United Nations). The legend says that quarryman Marinus fled from Rimini because Christians were prosecuted in the Roman Empire and went up to mount Titano to build a monastery there.
The country is a parlamentary democracy which has no national debt. The country carries the byname La Serenissima, The Most Serene. Until 1944 a railway connected Rimini with San Marino Città, but the railway tracks were destroyed at the end of World War II, even so the country remained neutral despite being surrounded by fascist Italy. Today there is only one good way to get by public transport to San Marino: take the bus from Rimini. It starts at the Hotel Napoleon close to the main railway station and it is a short and pleasent ride up the mountains.
Once you’ve arrived, all sights of San Marino are lined up like pearls on a necklace: while walking up the hill you’ll enter the city through the Porta San Francesco and take a look at the Museu di Stato. It is not large and doesn’t explain the history of the city, but the ticket can later be used for the other sights as well. Next stop might be the tiny Galleria Nazional d’Arte Moderna, then you’ll pass the cable car connecting the old city center with the lower Borgo Maggiore.
A few meters afar you’ll reach the wonderful Piazza della Libertà with the Palazzo Pubblico and great views. Up the hill you can visit the Basilica and behind that the tour of the three towers starts: the first one, the prima torre (or La Rocca) contains historic jail cells, some history guidance and you can climb onto the fortifications. After leaving, you can take the Passo delle Streghe, a nice narrow pass to the second tower (Cesta).
The Seconda Torre contains a military museum and behind that you can walk through the forest to the last tower, the Terza Torre (or Montale). It cannot be entered, but the tower itself is beautiful, you can enjoy the views on the valley and the walk along the trees is amazing. The way back out is then essentially the same, along small restaurants and bars. If you like you can buy postcards and stamps – who ever received a postcard from San Marino? By the way: the postbox which is easiest to find is directly at the Piazza della Libertà.
San Marino is for sure also a location for tax-free shopping. In the historic city center, these shops at least blend in with the ancient buildings. Outside of the city you’ll find the big shopping centers that the locals from surrounding Italy approach. If you’ve got some time left before your bus leaves: close to the bus stop the blue and white train is parked on a 800 meters long restored museum railway track. I’ve arrived in San Marino while it was fully hidden in fog and there was barely something to see; fortunately, the white fog lifted within the next hours.
San Marino Città
San Marino
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