Rising high above the surrounding Italian hills, the hilltop state of San Marino is a majestic sight. Its profile can be recognized from distance, not least because of the three towers on the top of Monte Titano that guard the miniature-sized mountaintop country. Best known for its scenic profile and small size, San Marino claims to be the oldest surviving republic on earth.
Main sights. The three towers are the main attraction of the historically interesting San Marino city that has recently been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Especially the so-called first tower, La Rocca, which is the oldest of the three and dates back to the 11th century, is worth exploring. This fascinating tower that once was a prison now offers not only historical site to be explored, but also stunning views over the whole of San Marino. In addition to the first tower, also Palazzo Publico - the town hall and the State Museum that pictures the history of San Marino are well worth a visit.
Visitor services. With over 3 million foreign visitors a year, San Marino is a popular sightseeing destination. Thanks to the small size of the country, all major services of San Marino are found in its hilltop capital that hosts most of the restaurants in San Marino, as well as hotels in San Marino. This fascinating small town is also the best place for shopping in San Marino, and the home of the best nightlife in San Marino.
Outside the city. Most touristic attractions of the country are located in San Marino city, whereas the rest of the country hosts small towns such as Borgo Maggiore and Dogana, as well as countryside dotted by small rural villages, which all share one major attraction: fantastic views down from the slopes of Monte Titano mountain. Many visitors to San Marino also come here to buy the postage stamps and coins issued in San Marino.
San Marino, a scenic miniature state guarded by three towers
San Marino is a small mountaintop republic located in the middle of Italy. It is the third-smallest state of Europe after the Vatican (Holy See) and Monaco. The other thing San Marino is famous for is its profile consisting of 755 meters high Monte Titano, and three towers rising above its mountaintop, overlooking the city of San Marino.Main sights. The three towers are the main attraction of the historically interesting San Marino city that has recently been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Especially the so-called first tower, La Rocca, which is the oldest of the three and dates back to the 11th century, is worth exploring. This fascinating tower that once was a prison now offers not only historical site to be explored, but also stunning views over the whole of San Marino. In addition to the first tower, also Palazzo Publico - the town hall and the State Museum that pictures the history of San Marino are well worth a visit.
Visitor services. With over 3 million foreign visitors a year, San Marino is a popular sightseeing destination. Thanks to the small size of the country, all major services of San Marino are found in its hilltop capital that hosts most of the restaurants in San Marino, as well as hotels in San Marino. This fascinating small town is also the best place for shopping in San Marino, and the home of the best nightlife in San Marino.
Outside the city. Most touristic attractions of the country are located in San Marino city, whereas the rest of the country hosts small towns such as Borgo Maggiore and Dogana, as well as countryside dotted by small rural villages, which all share one major attraction: fantastic views down from the slopes of Monte Titano mountain. Many visitors to San Marino also come here to buy the postage stamps and coins issued in San Marino.
Mountaintop state easily reached from Italy: San Marino
San Marino has a pleasant Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool winters. Average monthly high temperatures in San Marino rise to 20°C or above between May and October. However, the weather in San Marino is subject to quick changes caused by the high altitude of the country. Overall, spring, summer and autumn are the best times to travel to San Marino, but if you stop by for a short sightseeing, also the winter is not that bad time to visit San Marino.
Photo: Fdecomite, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
During the popular holiday season in August, San Marino City can get quite crowded.
How to get there. As San Marino has no airport and no foreign train connections, it is reachable only by road. However, traveling to San Marino is easy through the nearby Rimini and the neighboring Italian airports with regular shuttle buses running to San Marino.
Touring in San Marino. Buses are available for touring in the lower areas, but your own two feet are the only thing you need to explore the compact hilltop city of San Marino, connected to the rest of the country by an aerial tramway. Taxis are well available, and you can also rent a car in San Marino. If you are very sportive, you can also explore the country by biking in San Marino, which, however, calls for fitness, as there are no flat roads available, but instead only downhill and uphill. San Marino is generally a very safe place, although pick-pocketing does occur.
The world's oldest republic: History of San Marino
San Marino is the third smallest state in Europe and the world's oldest republic with astonishingly long history, according to some estimations starting from as early as year 301. The long independent path of San Marino is based in its exceptional mountaintop geography, which has during the course of history offered San Marino excellent position for defending its area. However, in spite of San Marino's formal independence, it has close ties to its larger neighbor, Italy.hint See also these nearby destinations: Rimini, Bologna, Tuscany
