SAN MARINO TRAVEL GUIDE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Why Travel to San Marino?

San Marino may be a small nation – officially ranked at number 5 smallest nation in the world – but not only does it have some of the most panoramic views of the countryside and skies, but it has great art, history, and culture, it is also one of the oldest republics in the world, dating to 301 AD …. and the best part, it’s in Italy!!! Ring a bell???

As the world’s oldest republic, a nation that once dominated her neighbors as a powerhouse, and a nation that also came to be a peacemaker at a time Italy was undergoing revolution and transformation, San Marino has developed something of a unique identity and personality in my opinion.

San Marino is surrounded by great Italian cities like Bologna, Florence, and Venice. Their presence in this region of Italy makes San Marino hard to notice. In fact, San Marino ranks high among Europe’s least visited states. In truth, most San Marino travel guides tend to mention these key cities as places to travel even though San Marino is a country in and of itself. It’s true; my own San Marino Tour guide kept repeatedly mentioning these Italian cities every once in a while. The Republic of San Marino is one of Europe’s microstates, surrounded by Italy’s regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche.

As a traveler and connoisseur of the hidden gems of the world, I think this is an advantage you and I should grab while it lasts. This is because the lack of attention she now has means we get to be among the earliest to enjoy her bounties, secrets, and wonders.

And these bounties are legion! This San Marino travel guide will look at:

• Museums filled with treasures collected over centuries.
• Medieval castles built on top of hills.
• Hundreds of thousands of art and literature collections preserved.

Today, San Marino is a nation with a population that doesn’t even touch 35,000 souls. This entire population is spread out over just 9 towns. It occupies a land the size of 61 sq km. It is landlocked and not even part of the European Union for all that the Euro is accepted and the local currency there. Indeed, San Marino is so understated and low-key that it is not the city of San Marino, but rather Dogana, which holds its largest population.

Still…

A San Marino Tour guide or operator will fill you in on what makes San Marino worth your visit, time, and money. My blog aims to do just that, albeit with my spice and flavor.

• San Marino has had more female presidents than any other nation in the world.
• And they have never been ruled by a king in all their history as a republic. Not willingly anyhow.
• While the official language is Italian, the locals speak Romagnol, a dialect particular to the Emilia-Romagna region.

Why Do You Need a San Marino Travel Guide?

San Marino seems buried under the much grander and storied presence of Italy around her. In fact, I have encountered fellow travelers who see San Marino as an adjunct – literally a smaller part of Italy – during their travels.

Making this San Marino travel guide stand out will be a challenge, but I will try! While most San Marino Tours try to take you around the city and make it worth your while, at the end of the day, visiting San Marino with an idea of what is coming is what my blog is for.

But even with such a small country to tour, it is easy to miss out on the things that make San Marino special. I mean, just the funicular ride from Borgo Maggiore up to San Marino city seems understated if you have ridden one before, but the view while at it is to die for.

Then there is the bragging rights you get from the San Marino passport stamp you can only get in San Marino. Strolls through deserted medieval streets, stunning sunsets while perched on the highest viewpoint for miles around…

I will try to show a side of San Marino that, in my eyes, not only makes her different from the much larger nation around her but also unique and distinctive enough that even the great father of Italian Unification, Giuseppe Garibaldi himself, felt that San Marino would remain apart from Italy.

Read on as I try to present the world through my eyes. My travel blogs also try getting out information on the best ways to travel, interesting facts about the places I travel, how to get there, spend as little, have a much fun, and generally my experience and take on the places I travel.

A Short History of San Marino

San Marino began life in 301 AD as a monastery built on top of Mount Titano by a man, fleeing Christian persecution, and now recognized as a Saint.

St. Marinus...

Marinus was a stonemason, and following the sacking of Rimini on the Adriatic Coast, by pirates, he was somehow rewarded by being allowed to build a monastic community atop Mt. Titano.

Much of the history of San Marino is missing or too filled with legends to make into official history records, and what we know begins from the 13^th century when the commune appealed to Pope Boniface VIII in protest at her taxation by her neighbors.

They won, a victory that attracted several other communes to join San Marino’s tax-exempt status.

Since then, San Marino may have fallen under the domination of her neighboring city-states, but every time the small nation would find a way to reinstate or regain her independence.

For example, Cesare Borgia may have occupied San Marino, but the occupation lasted mere months.

A fog in the mid-16^th century befuddled another papal army, allowing the city-state to retain her independence and led to the creation of another saint for San Marino, St. Quirinus.

St. Agatha became the patron saint of the republic in 1740 following the restoration of her independence by Pope Clement XII.

Napoleon promised to guarantee San Marino’s independence shortly after he invaded Italy because of a friendship with one of the city’s leaders.

Finally, partly as a reward, and partly in gratitude, Giuseppe Garibaldi also guaranteed San Marino’s independence even as the Kingdom of Italy was being formed.

In WWI, San Marino officially stood neutral and as a consequence, found itself facing the ire of both the Austrians and Italians.

Post WWI, San Marino gravitated towards Mussolini and fascism as economic and class troubles forced re-alignment, but then again in WWII, San Marino remained neutral. San Marino took in refugees in the conflict even when the RAF bombed them – and the Germans occupied the small country – in 1944.

For a short while, a communist government ruled in San Marino before it fell out of favor in 1957. San Marino is not part of the EU, uses the Euro, and when COVID hit in 2021, turned towards Russian vaccines because of high death rates even as the EU delayed supplying her with their own vaccines.

In general, San Marino may be landlocked and small, but something about her always deterred forced or long-lasting occupation by others. I think this is worth looking into and putting across in this San Marino travel guide, and perhaps we will see something in the things to see and do as we go around San Marino.

How to Get to San Marino

Rimini….

While Italy is endowed with many train lines, the only one getting to San Marino is from the coastal city of Rimini on the Adriatic.

So while Florence, Milan, Bologna, and Venice are close by, it is Rimini where you seal the deal.

Note that the travel times below are the quickest ones on Trenitalia which also involve many stops along the way there.

PS:

Book in advance after you read this. Train fares will always be more expensive if you are traveling the same day you get to the station.

In Rimini, you simply hop onto a bus. I found it interesting that the tickets to San Marino are sold just opposite Rimini Station and not at the Rimini bus station. Travel time is about 1 hour and drops you off at Piazzale Calcigni in San Marino.

PS:

The buses to San Marino are not many. I think there are only 5-6 a day. Worse, the schedules can be as far apart as 3 hours. No reason to start your tour of San Marino all upset. There is a schedule you can grab from their website and be sure to plan around whether it is Summer or Winter.

PPS:

The tickets don’t assign you a specific seat on a specific bus. This means that you compete for the earliest bus you see along with everyone else you see at the bus stop!

Finally, you could drive there from like Bologna, Milan or Florence [3-3.5 hour drives] but, like I always say, if you are the one doing the driving, you are not enjoying the views because your eyes only belong on the road.

How Much Time Should I Plan on Spending in San Marino?

The jury is still out on this one.

It is possible to arrange a schedule where you get to hit most of San Marino’s highlights in a single day. In fact, I have a YouTube channel where I worked out a route that lets you get to San Marino from Rimini early in the morning, take a circular route around San Marino’s offerings, and then get back to the bus stop in time for your ride back to Rimini.

An easy way to make sure you do see all of San Marino in a day would be by joining a San Marino tour where a local guide lets you see around and hit the highlights of the city.

But where would the fun in that route be? More importantly, your read of my blog would probably end here and you won’t need the rest of my San Marino Travel Guide!

Alternatively, booking a room for a night or two lets you control your pace around San Marino even if you do it with a San Marino Tour. At the end of this blog is a list of some of the hotels or Airbnb you can rent out for a few nights if you do decide to take things at a slower pace.

Best Places to See, and Things to Do, in San Marino

1. San Marino Streets and Alleys

First off, San Marino is really safe!

How safe??

The only crime noted in San Marino is money laundering! There are no mafia, crews, or crime syndicates in control of certain streets or any of that.

So, what makes San Marino’s streets a pleasure to walk even if they are very safe?

They are narrow, stone and brick streets and alleys with the occasional arch just above your head. The streets themselves are like mazes in some ways, an endless puzzle because one street seems to be higher than the one you just came from but almost immediately it slants downwards – or there are steps and stairs leading you somewhere – and the fun of discovering more of the city begins once more. Whether you enjoy the services of a San Marino Tour guide or not, it will be a fun experience.

There are also lots of small shops around selling perfumes or small curios. If you are lucky to be here on a rainy day, with a hint of moss and mist in the air, you are torn between entering a shop or spending a few more minutes outside to take it all in.

2. The Two Towers

Actually, like on the San Marino flag, there are three towers. However, one – Montale – remains privately owned so entering is not allowed. The other two are called Guaita and Cesta and public. Museo delle Armi Antiche in Cesta holds an array of medieval weapons and artillery inside.

I cannot blame the owners; the views from on and around the towers are simply divine.

From the top of Cesta and Guaita, you can see the valley and clouds below, making it feel as if Mt. Titano is so high up it floats above the clouds.

However, grabbing photos is what most of us are here for. There is that rock bridge at Cesta and you can see something of the valley below, like a portal into a different world. I am not sure whether you would want to spend a little extra for a San Marino Tour, but it may very well be worth it when you get to hear some of the backstory to the towers, like the medieval battles here, or how they used to be prisons.

Opening hours: 9am – 5 pm all week long

3. Cava dei Balastrieri

This one needs careful planning. The Cava dei Balastrieri is an outdoor spectacle held only in September. Then, there are crossbow competitions and shows. Tourists and residents are encouraged to dress up and watch on from above the quarry, on benches on the competition grounds, or while seated on the stone stands.

Otherwise, the quarry remains empty for most of the year, making the visit here not worth your while. Taking on a San Marino Tour will be good for you in September, otherwise, perhaps negotiate with your operator/guide about the visit here.

4. San Marino’s Curious Museums

Finally, a visit to some of the quirkier museums in San Marino sums up the last of the four main interesting sites in San Marino. There are mainly three of them; the Torture Museum, the World of Leonardo, and the Museum of Curiosity.

The Torture Museum was my favorite. There is something about gazing down on torture implements and tools and imagining whether you would keep from spilling the beans if it was you under the tender care of the torturer. With the Knee-crusher and the Inquisitor’s chair, that guillotine looked like a merciful instrument by comparison. Maybe you will need a San Marino Tour to explain some of the stuff here like the wheel – and that armor with spikes on the outside – but the Iron Maiden needs no explainations!

Museo delle Curiosita is a collection of odd stuff and creations humanity has managed to weird the world with. For example, that fat guy and the long beard…this particular museum is simply somewhere to drop by for a quick look if you can spare the time.

World of Leonardo pays homage to the time Leonardo da Vinci was offered sanctuary in the city-state back when he was being hounded. There is so much to see that I felt somewhat embarrassed at what I have accomplished in my life by comparison. Even so, you have to celebrate what humanity throws out every once in a while and appreciate what genius can do for humanity.

Follow this route to see San Marino in a day!

This ultimate San Marino Travel Guide charts out a route that lets you see all of San Marino without having to go back to some central point. If you follow this plan and take control of your timing, you very well might not just see all of San Marino in one day, but also finish and get back to the bus stop in time for the last bus leaving.

1. Convento dei Frati Cappuccini

When the bus from Rimini gets to San Marino, you are dropped off at Piazzale Calcigni. If you are going for a wholesome and deep cultural experience, try contracting a San Marino Tour here. A short distance away is this 16^th-century convent which hosts several religious artworks inside, among them an altar with a ‘Deposition of Christ.’

However, the most impressive feature of the convent is the viewpoint that offers a panoramic view of the valley below, one that makes you feel you have grasped the dimensions of the entire country in a single shot.

2. Piazza Sant’ Agata

There is an arch and alley just beyond the next turn where you pop up at the next square. You will know you are there because of the bronze statue of a hero of the small republic. The square also offers another viewpoint of the valley and hills beyond, but not one as impressive as that from the convent.

3. Torture Museum

Facing away from the bronze statue is a narrow alley to the right. Heading there gets you to the Torture Museum!

I already introduced this museum earlier, and will only add that it is not one to be missed if you come all the way to San Marino. In any case, you should be in time for the early showing of the museum as the museum is open all week long from 10 am – 7 pm.

PS: Remember about having purchased the all-inclusive museum pass for a less costly experience.

4. Porta San Francesco

Just next to the Torture Museum, a construct of importance to San Marino history as it used to serve as the main entrance into the city, and is as old as the Republic. If you are with an experienced San Marino Tour guide, thenthey will probably regale you with battle stories from when the Malatesta Family of Rimini would fight desperate wars right here.

5. Chiesa di San Francesco

Next up will be this 14^th-century sandstone church. An interesting feature within this church, according to my San Marino Tour is that the copper altar inside was made by a Rimini artist! Was this a political ploy to assuage their bellicose neighbors?

Some have said the Republic of San Marino is little different from Italy. But in Italian cities, you often only see artworks preserved in city halls that are made by their own city residents. In San Marino, it is like a cosmopolitan microcosm of the world outside being invited at every turn.

6. Museo Pinoteca San Francesco

There is also this gallery and museum right here with frescoes from the 15^th to 18^th century. The good thing about popping here is you don’t have to spend extra if you already purchased the all-inclusive museum ticket that bundles experiences.

It opens 8am – 5pm on weekdays, and 9am – 6pm on weekends.

7. State Museum [Museo di Stato]

The same street has the State Museum on it. It used to be hosted at the Palazzo Valloni until it was moved to the Palazzo Bergamo-Belluzzi. You definitely want to use your all-inclusive ticket here because of the thousands of coins, medals, paintings, and even porcelain you will find here. I also feel it displays something of the cosmopolitan spirit of San Marino I previously mentioned.

Opens all week long from 8am – 8pm during Summer.

8. National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art

Though not covered by the all-inclusive ticket, entry is cheap at 3 euros. I think they don’t include it because of their weird opening hours. I can only advise you to do some research on their opening times by visiting their website SANMARINOSITE.com

Even so, the stop here is worth it. Over 1000 works from the early 20^th century, many of them from artists local to the Emilia-Romagna and Marche region. I saw there were four main halls, and while I am not that good with modern art, I enjoyed the trip.

9. Cava dei Balastrieri

I already mentioned this Crossbowman Quarry, so I will only add that it is opposite the National Gallery and thus you don’t have to go out of your way if you are on a schedule.

10. Borghesi Museum

An early 20^th-century landmark of the city, this monument did not really make an impact on me. My San Marino Tour guide did tell me that the monument is dedicated to an early founder of the science of coins. I made the connection to the large collection of coins at a museum I visited earlier and decided to add this little titbit on my San Marino Travel Guide as well.

11. Funivia di San Marino

This is an airborne funicular that carries you up from the base station in Borgo Maggiore. There are two carriages with a capacity of 50 and they run every 15 minutes or so, giving you a glorious view of the country for the 2 minutes it takes to climb or go down.

Children ride or free, and it is open all week long from 7: 50am-7pm general [months are different].

PS: If you drove to San Marino, you probably stopped down at Borgo Maggiore and will have to take the fun ride upwards.

12. Borgo Maggiore

This is where my Ultimate San Marino Travel Guide – or a San Marino Tour guide – also comes in handy!

Buying the round-trip ticket at the funicular (4.5 Euros) lets you see a bit of Borgo Maggiore’s bustling market and shopping scene before you fly back up. The action is mostly confined to Piazza Grande, and for a pretty steep fee, you can take a helicopter ride to Rimini.

13. Tourism Post Office

If you head south along the via Sottomontana from the funicular, you will find yourself at the Tourism Post office. For 5 Euro, you can get a San Marino stamp as a souvenir as a collectible.

14. San Marino Basilica

This is a 19^th-century Neoclassical church dedicated to Saint Marinus. It is on the Piazza Domus Plebis and thus close to the Post Office. An added bonus to this stop along your way is you can also pop into the Chiesa di San Pietro where a crypt supposedly holds St. Marinus’ body.

15. Palazzo Publico

And then there is the Piazza della Liberta and the Palazzo Publico within a stone’s throw away. You know you are here because of the Liberty Statue, the cafes, and also because of the strong wind coming off from the side. This is arguably San Marino’s best viewpoint given the awesome panoramic view of the country beyond and below this spot.

Well, that’s it. You are just 2 km away from the bus stop, but will also likely pop into a taxi to get you there rather than risk getting lost along the way chancing the alleys and stairs.

There are other highlights in San Marino. These include the forest-borne San Marino Adventure Park, the Monastery of St. Clare in Borgo Maggiore, and even the San Marino Shinto Shrine in Serravale! The good thing about the route I charted out is that you will hit most if not all of San Marino’s cultural, historical, and architectural sites.

16. Souvenir

Grab a unique souvenir from the Coin and Stamp Museum

17. Day Trips

Day trip across the Riviera to spend some time in the sun and sands at Rivabella, Riccione, and Cattolica, Rimini, and most importantly for the cash-strapped, the free beach in Cesenatico.

More Things to See and to Do in San Marino

1. See and take snapshots of the Adriatic from the Belvedere of Contrada del Pianello
2. Panoramic views from on and around the 3 Towers of Guaita, Cesta, and Montale (which can not be entered)
3. Ride the Blue Train across contrades (streets) and historic centers in San Marino
4. See the Trail Park
5. Walk and climb up to Mount Titano for the panoramic views
6. Walk the Passo delle Streghe or Witches’ Passage linking the 3 Towers and Monte Titano
7. History and culture lessons at the Palazzo Pubblico and Piazza della Liberta
8. See the colorful change of guards at the Piazza della Liberta from 2:30 pm during summers
9. See the Neoclassical beauty, altars, and paintings of the Basilica di San Marino
10. Walk down through time among the archeological finds in the State Museum housed in the Palazzo Pergami Belluzzi
11. See more wonders and curiosities like the world’s longest fingernails, a 1700s German mousetrap, a trap for fleas, a 17th-century hand-pumped shower, and a “nose watch” that works by creating smoke of different scents each hour, all housed in the Museum of Curiosities
12. 100+ Wax figurines at the Wax Museum, including one of Mussolini and Hitler meeting
13. Vintage Cars at the Maranello Rosso Ferrari Museum

Places to Eat in San Marino

They said you can know a person – or place – by the flavor of their food.

I will have to disappoint you on this entry. I didn’t really pick up on anywhere that stood out. Plus, I was on that quick schedule where I wanted a quick snack before continuing on my adventure. Still, eating at Piazza della Liberta is not a bad deal, and there are lots of cafes and restaurants all along this route.

Places to Stay in San Marino

San Marino is not known for its tourist crowds, so the ratings for these hotels are not high.

This is a deceptive appearance.

Instead, the hotels in San Marino are not only really good but also full of the modern amenities you want close to hand after a day walking around a city.

1. Hotel Titano
2. Grand Hotel San Marino
3. Hotel Cesare
4. Hotel Crocenzi

Tips and Advice about your San Marino Travel Guide

San Marino doesn’t just have the smallest population in Europe, even crime there is almost non-existent. In fact, the biggest crime of note is money laundering, which means…ahem…someone else’s problem…

Indeed; San Marino actually offers free health care to its citizens, and with their really high average life expectancy, makes one wish they were San Marinese.

The thing to watch out for though, is schedules.

1. No McDonald’s here, so no quick burgers to have on the go.
2. The streets are really narrow and wind up and down, so getting lost and losing time is a possibility
3. Buses to and from Rimini to San Marino have no seating assignments. This means that the buses fill up and leave as they come and go. So be sure to keep an eye out and be ready to pounce.
4. Buses to San Marino are few at about 6 a day and leave 1-2 hours after each other.
5. Staying at Borgo Maggiore might be cheaper than staying in San Marino city because its larger population offers more opportunities
6. There are many stairs and roads leading upwards in San Marino, so if you are not sure about your cardio you should be careful.
7. You might not need a travel guide with you if you do your research on San Marino well, but no research can compare to the kind of information or backstory a San Marino Tour is bound to know.
8. Finally, as safe as San Marino is, it is best to retain what you have trained in yourself. So, travel in crowds – especially at night – and watch out for pickpockets and scams.

That’s it, folks!

This was Lucia, and I do travel guides and walkthrough videos of places I travel. Please visit my YouTube channel, SUBSCRIBE and I hope to see your comments and any additions you might like to share.