If you're in Italy by car, you can get from Rimini to San Marino in half an hour. San Marino is an independent country that is not part of the European Union, but you don't need any special documents or authorisations to enter. You can, however, pay in euros.
Sights, fascinating views, shopping, entertainment... what can't you miss in San Marino?
The cable car
San Marino's favourite first attraction is surely its cable car. The little ones (up to 120 cm) ride for free. Be sure to use it for a walk to the historic centre from Borgo Maggiore Castle. You can leave your car in the nearby car park.
The cable car ride is short (only 2 minutes), but from 166 metres up you have a beautiful view of the valley that reaches out to the Adriatic Sea and stretches to the coast of the Romagna Riviera. On arrival at your destination, there is a large square in front of the cable car with the monument to Bartolomeo Borghesi and a belvedere with a magnificent panoramic view. You can admire the whole landscape thanks to the coin telescopes.
Palazzo Pubblico
Pallazzo Pubblico is the town hall and government building. It is the seat of the government of San Marino. It was built between 1884 and 1894, designed by the architect Francesco Azzuri. It is dominated by a clock tower with a battlements. On the right corner is a bronze statue of St. Marino. The building is open to the public, you just have to pay an entrance fee (about 8 euros), but it's definitely worth it!
The square in front of the palace is called Piazza della Libertà. Here you will find the Statue of Liberty, from 1876, by the sculptor Galetti. Don't miss the changing of the guards in typical uniforms, which takes place every hour (in the summer months) from 8:30 to 18:30, just like in Prague.
Interestingly, the square hides rainwater cisterns in its underground.
Basilica del Santo
There are several churches in San Marino. The main basilica, the Basilica del Santo, will literally amaze you with its ornate beauty. Entrance is free. You can not only admire and admire this place, but you are even likely to meet a priest here, so if you are a believer, you can even make a confession.
The Basilica del Santo, below the ridge of Monte Titano, was built between 1826 and 1838, in the classical style by Antonio Serri. On the same site stood the 5th-6th century Romanesque church of Pieve. Under the altar are the relics of St. Marina. The interior is three-aisled with seven altars. To the left of the main altar you will see the throne of the Captains Regent, a 17th century work. Below the altar is a small urn containing the bones of Saint Marino, and to the right in the marble monument is a silver shrine containing the upper part of the saint's skull.
Walls and towers
Theentire historic core of San Marino is surrounded by walls with several gates. One of them is the Porta del Loco (or San Francesco), at the bottom of the fortifications. The walls were built gradually from the 13th century onwards. They also include three towers on the crest of Monte Titano - Torre Guaita, La Cesta and Montale.
La Rocca - Torre Guaita
The fortress of La Rocca, or Torre Guaita, stands directly above the city centre. It was probably built in the 10th century but has undergone many modifications. The entrance gate used to have a drawbridge. It houses cannons that San Marino received as a gift from the Italian kings. Inside there is an exhibition tracing the development of the fortifications and, like the other towers, it offers a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside.
the central core was the guardhouse and some rooms were used as prisons for sentences not exceeding 6 months until October 1970.
Torre La Cesta
At the highest point of Monte Titano is the second tower, La Cesta, also called Fratta. It was built in the first half of the 13th century. The tower houses the Museum of Ancient Arms (Museo delle Armi Antiche). It exhibits over 1500 weapons from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century, including handguns, auction weapons, firearms, bows, crossbows and armour.
Montale
The third tower, known as the Montale, dates from the late 13th century. It is the "smallest" in size but played a strategic role in the defence of the city. It has the best view of the surrounding area.
It is a fortress with a pentagonal plan that has been restored several times over the centuries, most recently in 1935. Inside there is an 8 metre deep dungeon.
This tower is not open to the public and can only be admired from the outside.
All three towers (forts) are connected by a panoramic pedestrian path.it is called the Path of the Witches - its name evokes a medieval folk tale of virgins who danced around the fire at night by moonlight and performed mysterious rituals.
Museums
San Marino has 12 state museums and 6 private museums that tell the story of art, anthropology-ethnography and the history of San Marino through testimonies of the different eras and archaeological finds discovered in the territory.
San Marino Experience Park
Do you have children with you? The right place to take them when visiting San Marino is the San Marino Adventures park. It is a park suspended between heaven and earth in the largest forest on the Adriatic Riviera and in Italy. It is also one of the largest adventure parks in Europe! You will enjoy breathtaking trails, climbing, games even for the little ones, picnics, softair and much more.
San Marino offers not only wonderful monuments, museums, churches, but also pleasant walks in the parks. Na okraji San Marina narazíte také na malé obchůdky, které vám nabídnou suvenýry, známky, šstamps, pens, clothes, but also various traditional alcoholic beverages (liqueurs, limoncello, wines, etc.).) at very reasonable prices indeed. And since many Czech tourists come here, you can often speak Czech with the shopkeepers.
