A real life fairy-tale land. Landlocked inside of Italy is the world’s oldest republic founded in year 301 called the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. Step back in time to the days of medieval fortresses and knights perched high above the land on Mount Titano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it will leave one of the biggest impressions. Go.
Time seems to stand still in San Marino, so the good news is you don’t need a lot of it. Plus it’s tiny, allowing you to see most of it in as little as 24 hours without feeling rushed.
2 DAY ITINERARY
Day 1
Guaita Tower (Main Tower)
Changing of Guards
Palazzo Publico
Day 2
Cesta Tower (Second Tower) Museum of Ancient Arms
Basilica di San Marino
Cable Car
DAY 1
Book a train to Rimini, Italy where you’ll catch a bus to San Marino. It’s a pleasant 30 minute scenic ride from Rimini up to Mount Titano. Exit Rimini train station, and purchase a return bus ticket in the tourist center out front on your left. It’s a few dollars per person round trip. They’ll direct you to the bus stop, which is right across the street. Arrive in Rimini by midday to ensure you catch one of the hourly buses to San Marino before they stop running for the day. As the bus climbs the hillside, soak in the views. You’ll never get enough.
When the bus drops you off at the top, make your way to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day will be spent exploring Mount Titano at your own pace wandering the old pedestrian streets.
There’s a few “interesting” museums on this tiny hilltop, including the Museum of Torture.
Book none other than the Montefeltro Suite at the Titano Suites. This $200/night suite has 2 bathrooms, and a jacuzzi with spectacular views overlooking the countryside from a large private terrace off your room. To experience even more of the magic of San Marino stay a night. Once the day trippers quickly disappear by late afternoon, the streets empty out and San Marino is left with only the sounds of faint footsteps shuffling down a side street every once in a while. The next morning you’ll have the hill top to yourself for a few hours before they pour back in.
Pick up some fruit from the local market and enjoy the view from your private terrace over the quiet streets.
Just steps away from the entrance are cafes to grab a latte, souvenir shops stocked up with the latest and greatest European football jerseys, a local pharmacy, as well as small mart to pick up beverages, fresh fruit, baked goods and local cured meats to enjoy on your terrace.
After you’ve checked in, head up to Guaita Tower for the mother of all views. The three towers are San Marino’s best known attractions, which are featured on the official flag of San Marino. Guaita Tower is the oldest, dating back to the 11th century. The views from the tower stretch as far as the Dalmatian Coast and over the nearby Apennines. Pay the entrance fee to get into both towers open to the public and you’ll get a glimpse of what this place felt like in the Middle Ages. The tower’s grounds include prisoner cells and a small stone chapel.
The view of Cesta Tower (below) from the top of Guaita Tower is worth the narrow climb up the ladder to the lookout.
View of the doorway to the prisoner cells. Certainly the view I’d want if I had to sit in a cell.
The Palazzo Publico houses city hall, where the changing of the guard takes place. San Marino has one of the smallest military forces in the world, as National Defense is the responsibility of Italy’s armed forces. The changing of the guard occurs daily during the summer starting July 1st. If you’re visiting prior to July 1st like we were, the guards are still present and more than willing to take photos if asked kindly.
Lady of Liberty is also located in Palazzo Publico in front of city hall. She’s wearing a crown with the three towers Mount Titano. Cafes and restaurants line the palazzo offering outdoor seating in Palazzo Publico. We dined at the outdoor tables of the highly rated, but super affordable restaurants, which in addition to their selection of local farm animals raised in the surrounding hillsides, offered plenty for us vegetarians.
San Marino is also known for the its Torta Tre Monti (“Cake of the Three Mountains”), which is a cake of layered wafers covered in chocolate depicting the Three Towers of San Marino. However, what they call cake, we call Kit Kat. Obviously we didn’t look too closely at the picture before we sat down with our coffee and opened the box preparing to cut into the cake. You can pick up this “cake” in the souvenir shops or the small grocery store just outside of the hotel.
Retire to your room to watch the sun set over the land while enjoying your goodies washed down with coffee or wine and get a good night’s rest for tomorrow.
DAY 2
Rise and shine. The hotel has a generous breakfast spread which is always a wonderful way to start a day. At check-in when I asked if breakfast was included in our rate, to my surprise they said it was. I’m fairly thorough in my research so I suspect it wasn’t a particularly busy time for them since we arrived late June before the summer rush. Ask if it’s included when you check in. Otherwise, it’s still well worth the price. Eggs cooked to order, pancakes, a selection of fresh fruit, toast, yogurts, cereals, coffee, teas, fresh squeezed juices, and cappuccinos and lattes made to order. Basically every breakfast food imaginable in their gorgeous dining room, which is not at all typical for European breakfast, and why I never opt to pay extra to include it.
Head to the towers before the masses arrive and enjoy having the streets to yourself and photographing the sights.
Arrive at Cesta Tower when it opens to visit the Museum of Ancient Arms. The views from the tower are nothing short of spectacular. Cesta Tower is one of the best known San Marino attractions. It is a fortress tower situated on a ridge at the summit of Mount Titano. Visitors can visit and tour the tower’s traditional weaponry museum, with many of the weapons dating back hundreds of centuries to the Middle Ages. From the top of the towers there are stunning views.
Many of the the weapons on display are from the 1600’s, and very cool to see up close how intricate the designs were on the sword blades.
The museum consists of a couple of rooms before you make your way out of the tower.
Grab some coffee and head over to the Basilica di San Marino which is a 3-5 minute walk.
With the most relaxed gun laws in Europe, you’ll notice along the way every third store sells weapons.
The Basilica is the main religious building in the country, as it contains the relics of St. Marino, who was the the founder of San Marino. Completed in 1855, it contains items dating to the 1600’s, including a small urn with the bones of St. Marino and a shrine which contains the top of the Saint’s skull.
We’re still ahead of the tour bus arrivals, so we had the chance to relax on the shady steps enjoying the quiet medieval square.
After a short rest you can make your way down the street to catch a cable car. The tourist office is also located next to the cable car, where you can get your passport stamped if you wish for a small fee as well as purchase San Marino coins and stamps.
If you have more time, explore the rest of the town down below as there’s additional shopping and restaurants. Otherwise, wait for the next ride up.
When you’ve built up an appetite, it’s time to sit down. Don’t let its size fool you. San Marino has some of the most delicious food in Europe. Ristorante Smaller is a must. The food is made with local ingredients and incredibly fresh and flavorful. It’s less than a 10 minute walk from Palazzo Publico down a shady road so it gets very quiet by late afternoon. So quiet that we were the only ones dining, and despite my research, I questioned my decision when we arrived and it was empty. I shouldn’t have. It lived up to its online reviews and was easily one of our best meals during our 3 week Europe trip. Go.
