Where is the state of san marino. Capture the three main towers of San Marino. Observation deck and endlessly beautiful views

The Republic of San Marino is the oldest state in Europe, surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy. There is no airport in San Marino, and the railway connection with Italy was destroyed during the Second World War. You can get to San Marino by car, taxi or regular bus plying between the capital of the state and the Italian Rimini.

The highest point of San Marino is the famous Mount Titano, which is under the protection of UNESCO. Together with three medieval towers built on the peaks, the mountain is depicted on the coat of arms and the flag of the state.

Thanks to its temperate climate and well-preserved medieval architecture, San Marino is highly acclaimed by tourists from all over the world. The main attractions are concentrated in the capital of the state of the same name. There are many museums here, the most interesting of which are the Museum of Curiosities, the Museum of Torture, and the Maranello Rosso Collection, which includes more than 250 cars.

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What to see in San Marino?

The most interesting and Beautiful places, photos and a short description.

The highest point in San Marino is the limestone mountain Monte Titano, located 13 kilometers from Adriatic Sea. Three peaks of this mountain are crowned with towers, the first of which was built in the 11th century. These towers symbolize the freedom of San Marino, and since the 14th century they have been depicted on the coat of arms of the state.

The main church of the capital is the neoclassical Basilica of San Marino. Since the 4th century, there has been a church built in honor of the patron saint of the country, St. Marin. In 1838, a new church was erected on the site of the old building, under the central altar of which part of the relics of St. Marino is kept. In 1926, the building received the status of a minor basilica.

Town Square The capital of San Marino is called Liberty Square, which in Italian sounds like Piazza della Liberta. Here is located marble statue Liberty, depicted on a two-cent coin of local coinage, and the Palazzo Publico, main residence government. From the observation deck Piazza della Liberta offers a magnificent view.

Not far from the central gate of the capital of San Marino, on the territory of the Franciscan monastery, there is the Church of San Francesco, founded in 1361. Today you can visit the Museum of Church Art and art gallery, where the works of masters of the XIII-XIX centuries are exhibited.

In the historical center of the capital, next to the gates, there is the Museum of Torture, the most terrifying examples of which date back to the 16th-17th centuries. The museum's collection consists of more than a hundred tools and devices, among which you can see the Spanish boot, chastity belt, the Iron Maiden and the Inquisitor's Chair.

One of three famous towers San Marino, the tower of Montale, is depicted on one of the local minted coins. Erected in 1320 on the lowest of the peaks of Monte Titano, the Montale tower has been restored many times in its history. Visiting Montale is currently restricted to tourists.

One of the more quirky museums in San Marino is the Museum of Curiosities. Exact replicas of the most unusual people, objects or phenomena. The Museum of Curiosities consists of several themed rooms, where you can see medieval mousetraps, original design, and the figure of the tall man in the world.

The main seat of the government of San Marino, as well as the city hall of the capital, are located in the Palazzo Publico, located on Liberty Square. In 1884-1894, the Palazzo Publico was erected on the site of the old House of the Great Communes. Today everyone can visit famous building government residence to view its luxurious interior decoration.

One of the popular attractions of San Marino, located in the historic center of the city, is the Museum of Modern Weapons. It exhibits an impressive collection of various weapons used during the First and Second World Wars. Each exhibit is supplied with instructions for its production and use.

One of San Marino's three famous towers, La Chesta is first mentioned in historical documents from 1253. In the XIV century, the tower entered the defensive complex of the city, and in 1924 La Chesta was restored and opened to tourists. Since 1956, the tower has hosted an exhibition of exhibits from the Museum of Ancient Weapons.

At the end of the 19th century, donations from citizens in the capital of San Marino opened State Museum. In 1982, the museum moved to Palazzo Pergani Bellucci and, after the restoration of the building, was reopened in 2001. More than 5,000 historical and artistic exhibits tell visitors the history of San Marino since 1865.

An extensive recreational area, a snack bar, a picnic area and many exciting rope routes for children and adults - all this is the Adventure Park in San Marino. The safety of guests during the passage of routes in the trees, the Park provides with the help of climbing equipment, which is issued after a special briefing.

The first of the three famous towers of San Marino is called Guaita or Prima Torre. It was built in the 11th century and was mainly used as a defensive fortress. Today, the Guaita Tower is a popular tourist attraction, from the top of which offers beautiful views of the landscape surrounding the mountain.

The so-called "dwarf" European countries have always aroused my keen interest: getting used to the huge scale of Russia, it is somehow difficult to imagine the peculiarities of the life of a state that can be traveled up and down in 1 day. And now the dream came true: during one of my trips to Italy, I managed to visit one of the most mysterious and attractive countries for me - San Marino.

This tiny state in the mountains, surrounded on all sides by Italy, attracts many tourists. Attracts in many ways because he knows how to skillfully present himself. Open any article on the Internet and you will find out that San Marino is the oldest state in Europe, the oldest republic in the world, and a huge cultural heritage, and most the best place for shopping (“prices are lower than in Italy!” all the guides shout), etc.

After visiting this country, I had strange feelings. Oh yes, she is indeed charming and beautiful! But much of what I read about her in numerous articles and guides turned out to be far from reality. It is hardly a matter of dishonesty of the authors, it's just that a certain image-legend has already formed around San Marino, and everyone, coming here, sees reality somehow in his own way. I will try to present my opinion - perhaps it will be useful for someone.

Visa and border crossing

To visit San Marino, in fact, you must have the same documents as for visiting Italy: that is international passport and a Schengen visa. San Marino does not have any special requirements for documents. A local visa can only be obtained as a souvenir - for 5 EUR in any tourist office You will be stamped in your passport.

When entering the Republic and leaving it border control is absent in principle. At the same time, there are certain rules for duty-free import of things, and they are quite standard for the EU: 20 cigars, 40 cigarettes, 16 liters. beer, 4 l. wine or 1 liter. strong alcohol, etc. There seem to be no restrictions on the import and export of currency, but amounts over 10,000 EUR must be declared. Well, as elsewhere, for the export of cultural property and archaeological artifacts special permission is required.

It is not entirely clear, however, how San Marino monitors the implementation of these rules (I repeat - there is no inspection at the borders), but it is still better not to risk it.

How to get there

The only way to get to San Marino is through Italy. Although there is a heliport in Borgo Maggiore (San Marino), helicopter flight from neighboring European countries can hardly be considered budgetary and convenient way get to the republic. However, you can’t forbid living beautifully: if you want, go for it.

Tourist regions

The territory of San Marino is too small to speak seriously about any individual regions. The country is divided into 9 regions, here called "castles" (castelli), each with its own "regional" center, surrounded by several villages. Many of these enclaves can easily be explored in half a day.

Perhaps a little more time will be spent on the capital - the city of San Marino. Most tourists aspire to this place: the most beautiful views open from Monte Titano, on which this city is located. Here is the main focus of museums, exhibitions and other attractions.

You can’t say for sure about San Marino: “only leaving the central tourist areas, you can really feel the atmosphere of this place ”- this and other similar tourist stamps do not work here. To truly appreciate the beauty and spirit of San Marino, you need to walk in the center. You should wander into other regions of the republic either for a specific purpose (for example, shopping), or when you stopped in San Marino for a few days, and the historical center has already been walked by you inside and out.

It can be noted that the tourist life is mainly concentrated in the northern part of the country, in the south of the capital there are the smallest towns and villages. Thus, most of the hotels offered by Booking are concentrated on the axis of San Marino - Borgo Maggiore - Domagnano - Serravalle - Dogana (see the map below).

Top cities

San Marino

The capital of the republic, its historical and tourist centre. It was here, according to legend, that the future saint named Marin settled in 301, thus founding the state.

The city is one big mountain. I’m not sure that it’s right to say “the city is located on the top of Monte Titano” - rather, he grew into her and became one with her. A walk around the capital is somewhat reminiscent of climbing a tower along a continuous spiral staircase. San Marino does not stretch far and wide, like ordinary cities, but upwards. Accordingly, instead of the usual dilemma - to go right or left, here you often have to decide whether to go straight, down or up. By the way, in some points of the capital there are elevators that move people to different levels of the city.

Most tourists start their walk around the city from its lower part - Piazza Marino Calcini - up. Already on this square you can hang out for a long time - such a wonderful view opens up to our eyes. And then, rising higher and higher, you stop to admire the surroundings at every step.

And it seems that the surrounding landscape does not change much, but you can’t see enough of it all. Actually, in my opinion, this is what you should go to San Marino in the first place: to walk through the medieval mountain city, suffocate with delight at the sight of the opening landscapes, and breathe in the fog at the very top. By the way, it looks so unusual here that it always seemed to me that it was smoke from some big fire.

By God, at some point I felt like in a kind of Narnia, this place seemed to me so far from the usual civilization. For the sake of these amazing sensations, it is definitely worth visiting here.

Note that even in summer season when there are more tourists, in San Marino you don't run into crowds of people everywhere. Perhaps they are simply successfully distributed among different "tiers" of the city. In the cool season, you will always find a secluded deserted place to relax or take a photo shoot.

In terms of attractions, the city makes a double impression. On the one hand, there are many museums, you can't get around everything in a couple of days. On the other hand, almost everywhere the exposition is quite modest, if not formal. You go to most of the museums here not to learn something new, but to take a break from walking, have fun or appreciate another gorgeous view to the neighborhood.

The capital has a theatre, editorial offices of newspapers, all the necessary state institutions, and several schools. If you're lucky, you can see the ceremony of transferring power to the two rulers of the republic - the regents, who are appointed for a six-month period. Mainly for the worthy decoration of this ceremony, the republic maintains a regular army of about 100 people.

To properly explore all the nooks and crannies of the capital, it will take 3-4 days, but even if you came here for only 1 day (as most tourists do), you will have time to fully enjoy San Marino.

Serravalle

Serravalle is the capital of the largest region of San Marino. The bus from Rimini station arrives here in about half an hour. The Serravalle region also includes the most populated town of the republic - Dogana. It is located on the very border with Italy, and its name is translated as "customs", although now it is more a tribute to historical memory than reality.

In Serravalle itself, the main attraction is the Malatesta Castle, preserved from the Middle Ages. The Malatesta family was one of the most influential in these parts. If you visit Rimini, you will find many objects associated with it, and you will find out that the famous Florentine exile, Dante, lived near Malatesta for some time.

Other interesting places include parks that are pleasant for recreation - Ausa di Dogana and Layala, as well as a football stadium for up to 5,000 spectators - for San Marino this is just a huge amount. The local team plays here, and in all its rather big history, it was able to win only once. But this does not prevent the people of Sanmarin to adore football: there is a team in almost every town - the influence of Italy affects.

In general, if you get out to walk around the "non-central" San Marino, I advise you to first of all perceive the environment as big museum open-air ethnography - few places in the world in natural environment preserved so pastoral views.

Borgo Maggiore

Borgo Maggiore is located at the foot of Monte Titano. From here you can climb up to the capital cable car- distance of 1.5 km. 185 m long. You will overcome it in about 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 4 EUR.

Official Information states that carriages run back and forth all day long from 8 am to 7–8 pm (depending on the season), with an interval of 15 minutes. In practice, there are overlaps: on one of my visits to San Marino in October, the road did not work all day, and there were no explanatory announcements. I don’t know what was the matter - whether it was a planned repair, or there was a force majeure, but I advise you to keep this in mind.

Borgo Maggiore is the main place for small trade in San Marino; for centuries, a large number of markets and fairs have been located here. Fairs are still held periodically on the Grande Square.

There are enough attractions here: tourists are attracted by the 18th century church of San Antima with an unusual clock tower of 1896, the 17th century chapel of Vaglioni Oratore and a number of museums - the Hippocrates Museum, the Museum of Philately and Numismatics, etc. Borgo Maggiore is also famous for its National Park.

Aquaviva

A little northwest of the capital San Marino is the region of Acquaviva with the central city of the same name. This is a kind of health resort of a small state. At the foot of the city hill, a spring still flows, in the past it supplied drinking water the whole country. The territory of Akvaviv is covered green spaces, the air here is considered especially clean and healthy. Walking here in the mountains along hiking trails, you can truly relax both in body and soul.

Sights include the local church of St. Andrew, an old chapel right in the rock and the castle of Montecerreto. And in the region there is a picturesque Formula 1 race track. In 1994, the famous racer Ayrton Senna died here, and many fans still come here to honor his memory. In addition to Formula 1 competitions, the second most important motorcycle tournament is held here, attracting thousands of fans.

Montegiardino

Montegiardino is located on the southeastern outskirts of San Marino. This place is not particularly popular with guests of the republic, and this is what makes it interesting: Montegiardino is one of the few areas of San Marino where you can see the life of the country with virtually no tourist attributes.

The University of San Marino is located here, and from the sights there are old fortress gates.

Top attractions

Most of the "iconic" attractions are located in the capital of San Marino, and they are given special attention in this section. Worthy places to visit in other regions of the country are mentioned in the Top Cities section. Entrance to each museum of the capital costs 4.5 EUR (3.5 EUR preferential categories visitors - children under 12, etc.). You can buy a multi-museo ticket for 10.5 EUR to 5 public museums in San Marino (valid for 10 days). During the summer period - from June 20 to September 10, museums are open from 8:00 to 20:00, the rest of the time - from 9:00 to 17:00.

State Palace

The State Palace of San Marino is located in the center of the capital, on Freedom Square. In front of him is the Statue of Liberty, donated to the republic by a German countess in the 19th century. Sanmarinians are very proud of their freedom - even the official motto of the state sounds like "Liberta".

The State Palace is the seat of the Grand Council of San Marino and can be visited on non-session days. You can also go into the main hall, I even sat down to rest in the parliamentary place. I don’t know if it’s possible or not to do this - the caretaker was in another room.

By the way, political life in the republic, it seems, it is in full swing: there are 6 political parties, some of them have very ornate names (“Alliance of the San Marino Democrats”, “Communist Renaissance Party”), etc.

Basilica of the Saint

The main temple of San Marino, dedicated to the founder of the state, Marina, is simply called the Basilica of the Saint here, the Sanmarinians consider it below their dignity to specify which one. According to legend, it was in this place that St. Marin from the persecutors of the Christian faith in 301. You can see those very niches in the rocks not in the basilica itself, but in the church next to it - San Pietro.

The first church appeared here already in the 4th century, but has not reached our days - the current building was built in 1838. Inside the church it is beautiful, but without the frills inherent in many Catholic churches - a hint of asceticism is felt. Here the relics of St. Marina, found in 1586, and the regent's throne in 1600.

State Museum

Piazza Titano is home to the State Museum of San Marino. In terms of exposure, this is probably the most interesting museum in the country. You can trace the history of the state from medieval times, get acquainted with historical regalia and symbols, coins of different eras, etc.

small churches

Both in the capital and in other regions of San Marino, I recommend that you pay attention to small churches, usually located a little away from the main tourist routes. As a rule, there are no famous artistic masterpieces and other historical values. But there are no ticket sellers, crowds of people, strict caretakers who make sure that no photographs are taken and all that. Often in such a church you find yourself completely alone and can feel like a medieval traveler who has entered a distant mountain monastery.

Of these temples in the capital, I advise you to look into the Church of San Quirino (Capuchin Monastery), a 5-minute walk east of Calcini Square. In front of the church on a column is the figure of St. Francis, and the signature view of San Marino opens from the site.

Also noteworthy is the Church of San Francesco, located just south of Piazza Titano, and many others.

Towers of San Marino

The three towers of San Marino are a real symbol of the country. They flaunt on the coat of arms of the republic, and their image will catch your eye every now and then. With San Marino conciseness, they are usually called simply here: the First Tower (Guaita), the Second Tower (Chesta) and the Third Tower (Montale).

All three towers are located on the highest points of the capital, at some distance from each other. Closest to the center is the Guaita tower, you can walk to it in 10 minutes from the Basilica, or climb the stairs from Piazza Sant'Agata, passing by two fortress gates. There is a small museum inside, there are very few exhibits, but you can climb the walls and enjoy the views directly from the tower.

Moving east along a very picturesque path, from here you can walk to the Second Tower in 15 minutes. There is also a museum - an exhibition of ancient weapons. Go to the Montale tower for another 15 minutes further east. The main attraction of the San Marino towers is, of course, not in museum exhibits, but in the views that open from them and from their surroundings.

Vintage Car Museum in Borgo Maggiore (Maranello Rosso)

Great museum, especially for visiting with children. Various brands of cars are represented, most of, of course, - Italian. There are more than 25 Ferrari models here. different years, the 1916 carriage of Margaret of Savoy and the 1959 Fiat of Pope John XXIII.

Titano Theater

During your stay in San Marino, you can go to the theater - there are several of them in the republic. The most popular - the Titano Theater - is located near Piazza Sant'Agata. The theater was founded here in the 18th century, but in 1941 it was completely rebuilt. The troupe consists of 260 people, which is quite large for San Marino.

Lookouts of San Marino

Since stunning views and landscapes are the main thing in San Marino, it is impossible not to say a few words about the best observation decks capital Cities. In general, as I said, magnificent panoramas will open to your eyes from almost anywhere in the city. However, I would like to highlight a few places.

Street sculptures of San Marino

Walking around San Marino, every now and then you stumble upon outdoor sculptures quite modern look. Among them there are both funny and incomprehensibly abstract, giving a reason to grumble on the topic of contemporary art, and making you think.

In any case, these compositions, scattered at every step, harmoniously fit into the views of San Marino and, of course, add to the impressions of the local promenade. There is also a sculpture, especially close to tourists from our country - a monument to the children of Beslan.

Weather

For visiting San Marino, such concepts as “season” and “off-season” are not very important: there is no sea here, ski holidays too, and you can enjoy walks, shopping and museums, in principle, at any time of the year. On the other hand, nearby, in particular, is such a resort as Rimini. Therefore, in the summer the number of tourists in San Marino increases significantly, more buses go here, museums work longer, etc.

Summer in San Marino is the period from late June to early September. It is rarely hot here, thanks to the mountainous terrain, and the temperature in the summer months, on average, ranges from +20 to 24°C. Autumn is warm, even in November the temperature rarely drops below +10°С, and more often it is at the level of +15–19°С.

The coldest time here is in January-February - average temperature air is + 3–5 ° С. Precipitation occurs mainly in autumn and winter. Snow also falls from time to time, but it does not stay on the slopes for a long time.

Money

In San Marino, the same currency as in Italy is used - EUR. It is interesting to note that the republic is not a member of the EU. They say that for this reason the state does not have the right to print its own banknotes, but it can mint a certain number of coins with its own symbols. Such coins can serve as an excellent souvenir from San Marino! I came across one for change at the box office of the Palazzo Pubblico Museum - the State Palace. I was already on fire with the idea of ​​exchanging a certain amount of my euros for San Marino with the cashier, but the lady refused: you can change it, just like that - you can’t. Apparently, it is considered wrong here to distribute coins to the right and left, when they can be profitably sold in the same numismatic museum.

In San Marino, all major bank cards are valid - Visa, Mastercard, etc. You can pay with a card in almost all stores. There are enough currency exchangers here, but it is still better to change money in other places. San Marino is a tourist center, and the exchange rate here is unlikely to be profitable.

Moving around the country

You can get around San Marino by bus or car. It is worth remembering that in the center of cities the movement of vehicles is prohibited, there, willy-nilly, you will have to walk. Due to the peculiarities of the relief, it is often necessary to climb uphill - stock up on strength.

Tourist buses run between cities - option public transport. You can also use a taxi, although the San Marino taxi fleet is not very large, but Italian taxi services also operate here.

In the northern part of the country (from San Marino to Dogana), it is convenient to travel between regions by bus between San Marino and Rimini - it stops in all towns along the route, but the interval between two buses more than an hour. Well, from the upper levels of the capital, you can get to Borgo Maggiore (and then transfer to the right bus) by cable car.

Connection

There are no problems with communication in San Marino - everything is like in Italy. It is unlikely that, having arrived for 1-2 days in the republic, you will want to purchase a local SIM card - this is not profitable. As for the quality of communication, I had no problems dialing from San Marino to Moscow (although a fair amount of money is eaten up with roaming, but you know this without me). Just in case: telephone code San Marino +378 0549.

In the capital of San Marino, there is free city Wi-Fi, in other cities you can connect to the Internet in restaurants, cafes and hotels.

Language and communication

The official language of San Marino is Italian, no special dialects are used here. In the central part, as a rule, they understand English, and in some places even Russian. However, it is useful to learn a few phrases in Italian. Firstly, the locals will be pleased - in my experience, when you ask, for example, directions to local language, random passers-by often lead you almost to your destination. And secondly, after all, not everyone in San Marino knows English.

Below are some Italian words and expressions you may need in San Marino.

• Mi dia questo, per favore(Mi dia cuesto, per favore) - "Give me this, please." A universal phrase for both the store and the restaurant. The main thing, pronouncing it, is to poke a finger in the right thing or menu bar.
• E troppo caro(E troppo caro) - "It's too expensive." When you are bargaining, you can use more emotional phrases, for example: Costa una fortuna! - Worth a fortune!
• A che ora... (A ke ora) - "At what time."
• Scusi, va al San Marino?(Skuzi, wa al San Marino?) - "Excuse me, does this go to San Marino?" This question can be asked to bus drivers, passengers (pointing to the bus) and not only about buses, but about any vehicle. San Marino in the phrase can be replaced by any other name or place (before the museum, square, market, etc.).
• Parla inglese / russo?(Parla inglese / russo?) - "Do you speak English / Russian?"
• Dove posso comprare…(Dove posso comprare) - "Where can I buy ...?". Next, substitute what you need.
• Vorrei comprare questa cosa(Worrey comprare cuesta goat) - "I want to buy this thing."
• Senta, per favore, dove'e...? (Senta, per favore, dove e) - “Tell me, please, where is ...?” (substitute the desired object).
• Che peccato!(Ke pekkato!) - "What a pity!" This emotional phrase is suitable for almost any situation and, perhaps, will help you achieve what you want.
• Basta!(Basta!) - “Enough!” Another universal phrase - and for someone to fall behind, and in the store.
• Grazie(Grace) - "Thank you."

Features of the mentality

Undoubtedly, the main features of the San Marino character repeat the Italian ones. But there are also differences due to the very way of life of the republic. More than 60% of the state's income comes from the tourism industry, most of the population is employed in it. This leaves a certain imprint on the mentality of the Sanmarinians.

They are obliged, willy-nilly, to support the legend of the "oldest independent republic". What kind of independence is there, and how much it costs, everyone understands, but ... The legend lives on, it attracts tourists, which means that any Sanmarinian will be offended if this issue is raised in a conversation. The external attributes of independence and exclusivity are taken extremely seriously here: it is not without reason that in order to obtain citizenship of this country, one must live here for at least 30 years.

In general, the people of San Marino are friendly and welcoming. Perhaps they are a little less emotional than the Italians in outward manifestations - perhaps rural life has a somewhat calming effect.

Food and drink

Food

The cuisine of San Marino is a variation on the theme of Italian cuisine - the food here is varied, nutritious and very tasty. Agriculture is very developed in San Marino, therefore, as a rule, local products are used. Pasta dishes, beans and corn are very popular, and a variety of vegetables and cheeses are abundantly used. Available big variety meat dishes, seafood dishes are somewhat less. As with traditional Italian cuisine, the recipes use a lot of herbs. There is no lack of choice of desserts, but in this direction the Sanmarinians mostly follow the classics.

Beverages

San Marino produces a large number of branded local wines and liqueurs. Wines are offered for every taste - red (for example, Tessano), white (Roncale), sparkling (Riserva Titano), etc. Liqueurs are generally a specialty of San Marino, there are a lot of them here - with different flavors shades, strength, fruity aromas. Known truffle liqueur "Tilus", anise liqueur "Mistra", many other variations (pistachio, orange, herbs, etc.).

All of them are very tasty, but very sweet. On the one hand, liquor should be sweet, on the other hand, some brands seemed to me personally cloying to the point of impossibility. Once, while choosing a liquor in the center of San Marino, I, answering the saleswoman’s question “what do you want?”, Said: “not as sweet as limoncello.” She made round eyes and asked: "Is Limoncello sweet?!" After that, it became clear that in assessing the tastes of liqueurs, I could not agree with the people of Sanmarin. However, pistachio and orange liqueurs were also quite to my taste.

shopping

Shopping in San Marino is quite diverse, and in some stores you can really buy things cheaper than in Italy, but you need to carefully research the market: not everywhere offers optimal conditions. It is recommended to buy perfumes, clothes, leather and fur products, cosmetics, shoes, musical instruments, electronic appliances, etc.

Best time for shopping, as well as throughout Italy - in January-February and during the summer sales (July-August). For some goods (for example, for shoes) it is recommended to go to nearby Italian regions- in Marche, Riccione, etc. Actually, there are many outlets in the vicinity of Rimini, and by comparing prices for certain goods in Italy and San Marino, you can find the best options for you.

Vacation with children

San Marino is almost an ideal place to visit with children. It will be interesting for children of any age here: firstly, there is room for active running up and down, secondly, something interesting is literally around every corner, thirdly, local beauties are so unusual for residents of our latitudes that children will be simply dumbfounded .

It is not very convenient to explore San Marino with very small children - in the center, as you remember, you can only move on foot and often you have to go uphill. Rolling a stroller or carrying a baby in your arms will not be easy for you. On the other hand, this is not a reason to completely refuse a trip here - you just have to arrange halts more often. Local hotels, restaurants and cafes have everything you need to serve children.

Away from the historical center there are many parks, green areas, mountain trails- Here you can also have a good time with children. I have no doubt that they will be delighted with the cable car ride.

As for the museums and other attractions of San Marino, this is a rare case when a child can be taken to almost any place without fear that he will get tired: the expositions are everywhere small and full of things that are easy to perceive. For example, the towers of Guaita and Chesta will seem to children more like an attraction than a museum - you can run around the fortress, climb walls and look at ancient weapons. Museums such as the Wax Museum, the Museum of Curiosities, the Vampire Museum, etc. children will also appreciate it.

Safety

Security in San Marino is at a very high level, this country is too small - there is nowhere for criminals to turn around. However, this is not a reason to abandon reasonable precautions that are useful everywhere and always:

• do not carry valuables in your back pockets;
• hold bags tightly and do not leave them unattended;
• if possible, do not carry a lot of cash with you and, in any case, do not “shine” with them, etc.

5 things to do in this country

Nearby countries

Since the republic is surrounded by Italy from everywhere, it is obvious which country can be visited after traveling through San Marino. Often, of course, the opposite happens: tourists traveling in Italy stop in San Marino for 1-2 days and go further along the planned route.

As has been mentioned more than once, the nearest major Italian city on the way from San Marino (1) is Rimini (2). This resort is well known to our tourists: here you can enjoy beach holiday(season from June to September) and explore local attractions: the oldest Arch of Augustus in Italy, the Tiberius Bridge, the city museum, the Malatesta temple and many others.

Have something to add?

Do you know which of the dwarf states is the dwarfest and oldest? This is the Republic of San Marino. But in the case of the state, old age and small size only add to its merits. When you drive up to the capital of the state of San Marino, the city of the same name, it becomes clear how they managed to maintain their independence from the 4th century to the present day.

The city of San Marino is protected by Monte Titano, which rises seven hundred and fifty meters above sea level. At first we drove up by car along a moderate serpentine, then we continued on foot already outside the walls of the fortress. When there was no motor transport, climbing the mountain where the capital of the dwarf state is located was a serious obstacle to the armies of the conquerors.

Napoleon, during his Italian campaign, declared that San Marino should be preserved as an example of freedom and passed by. In World War II, the republic managed to maintain its neutrality and avoid ruin. Cesare Borgia took the fortified city in 1503, but the Sanmarinians managed to get rid of tyranny a few months later.

For motorists, it is worth noting that if you uploaded maps of Italy to your navigator, then the map of San Marino will not be there, we fell into this trap and followed the signs on the road.

Among tourists San Marino is popular as duty free zone. But this is not the only advantage of a tiny state. From the mountain of Monte Titano open absolutely unforgettable views of the hills of Italy. The popular seaside resort - Rimini is located just 22 km from San Marino from the walls of the fortress you can see the Adriatic Sea in good weather.

Rimini and San Marino are connected by an excellent multi-lane highway, the uphill traffic was dense, many Italians go to the shops of the neighboring state for shopping. We went to a grocery supermarket at the entrance to the fortress, buyers rolled back carts loaded with a slide, you can immediately see what they were gaining in reserve, the prices are really pleasing.

Apennines - view from the walls of San Marino

The proximity of the seaside resort nearby provides San Marino with a continuous flow of tourists enriching the treasury of the state. The official language is Italian, not the official one - Russian, absolutely all sellers speak pure Russian, this surprised me the most, seeing Russian tourists as welcome guests in San Marino stores.

We managed to park the car right under the walls of the fortress, 50 meters from the gates of San Francesco. Parking is paid, the price is quite reasonable, otherwise I would remember how much they took. You need to pay at the machine and put the check under the glass.

Starting from the gates of Del Loco, only a hiking route is possible, immediately outside the gates there is a riotous trade, however, the higher you go uphill, the less fuss and people, many tourists are not interested in architecture and landscapes, but simply go shopping pragmatically.

The weather was rainy and cold, only +16. All Russian sellers told us that they would never remember such a cold July, it certainly hadn’t been for 10 years. We walked around San Marino on 07/10/2014. The umbrella that we bought broke, we had to fix it with adhesive tape, so in Germany you can also buy low-quality goods, the umbrella served us only 1 day.

The rain, fortunately, poured intermittently, and by the evening it completely ended. Low clouds make it difficult to enjoy the surrounding scenery. The city was fortified and protected by three rows of fortifications built in different time. The characteristic teeth on the towers are reminiscent of the Moscow Kremlin.

In total, there are three ancient fortresses on Mount Titano, two of them are museums, and the third is just a tower inside there is no entrance. Three fortresses are depicted on the coat of arms of the state.

Modern sculptures are installed at the foot of the fortress.

We photographed only fairly conservative specimens, there were also very strange ones.

Only at home I found out that it turns out that the sculpture is called “Bees”, we, as a whole friendly family, recognized mosquitoes in these insects. For bees, they are very thin, and what they do, everyone understands to the extent of their depravity.

Beneath the wall is a crossbow quarry where crossbow shooting competitions are still held.

government palace

The Government Palace is a new building, construction was completed in 1894. The new palace was built on the site of an ancient palace of the 16th century. Above the clock of the palace are images of St. Marino, the founder of the state, surrounded by St. Agatha and St. Leo. In front of the palace is the Statue of Liberty, as it looks in the Sanmarin version.

Church of Santo Pieve

Alas, this church is a new building. The Sanmarines admitted that they had caused irreparable harm to the country when they demolished the old pre-Romanesque church of Pieve. old church stood at the origins of Christianity and represented unique monument history and culture of the state.

Under the altar of the modern church, part of the relics of St. Marino is kept. He lived during the time of the Roman emperor Diolectian and was a Christian; the future saint fled to Monte Titano to escape persecution and lived a long life with the Christians who joined him. He and his followers founded this tiny state.

The first fortress - Guiata

It is impossible to say exactly when construction began, it is absolutely known that in 1371, according to documentary sources, there were already three fortresses on the mountain, the beginning of construction is presumably attributed to the 10th century.

Naturally, over the long years of its existence, the fortifications have been rebuilt and restored many times.

The second fortress - Chesta

Sometimes this fortress is also called Fratta. The fortress, like the others, stands on the very edge of a cliff, on the highest peak of Mount Titano. Now in the fortress there is a museum of ancient weapons, which we visited, our boys love weapons. The ticket to the museum is made in the form of a plastic card, you can give it back at the exit and get 1 euro for each ticket.

Very picturesque old paths lead from one fortress to another. The second fortress in my opinion is the most beautiful.

Only those who bought a ticket to the museum of ancient weapons can walk along the towers of the fortress, hanging over a cliff, so I advise you.

Third fortress - Montale

The third fortress is just one tower. Most likely, the fortress was simply not completed due to the changed political situation.

The tower served as an observation and sentry and covered the left flank of Chesta.

Well, some more picturesque views of the surroundings. Fields and hills of Italy.

Going down, you again plunge into the crowd making purchases in the lower stores. everyone recognizes San Marino as the highlight of the entire trip. Crazy fuss reigns only in the first tier, the higher you go upstairs, the quieter and calmer.

Helpful answer?

Excursions in San Marino

Despite the fact that San Marino is included in the list of the smallest states in Europe, tourists will find something to see in this republic. All nine castle towns of San Marino deserve the attention of travelers. And all thanks to the fact that the locals were able to keep in perfect shape medieval architecture dwarf state with wonderful landscapes.

It will be most convenient for travelers to stay in the capital of San Marino. It is connected to all other cities, which are not far from the center, by ideal roads.

Tourists who find themselves in San Marino must visit Basilica del Santo. This magnificent church is considered the heart of the republic and is located in the country's capital of the same name. The current view of the attraction is not original. Out of good intentions, the townspeople rebuilt the church, giving it a more majestic appearance. The rich interior, walls decorated with bas-reliefs and a magnificent marble sculpture of the founder of the republic delight visitors. In the basilica you can meet many Italian guests who come to this place for spiritual and physical healing.

In addition to the numerous castles in San Marino, you can visit Museum of Ancient Weapons, Museum of Curious Things. The latter is the only one in the world. Its exhibits not only delight, but also lead to a state of stupor.

Can't be bypassed business card countries- a complex of three towers Chesta, Guaita and Montale.

San Marino is small state inside . We visited it when we arrived from rest for a couple of days in. All this is within our . I already wrote about our route of movement in this country - read in more detail -. Here I would like to dwell in more detail on the technical side of the issue, so to speak, and analyze in detail the option of sightseeing San Marino in 1 day. Everything is as it should be - with a map, photos and description :)

Famous views from San Marino reveal endless horizons from mountains and clouds

How to get to San Marino and solve the parking issue

Before talking about the main attractions that we visited, it will be useful for you to read the following two articles:

Well, then you can start more detailed planning of the trip :)

What is the best way to visit the main places in San Marino?

So, our main idea on how best to explore a mini-country in one day is as follows:

1. We leave the car a little lower, not reaching the very top. First, it will be easier to find free parking spaces. Secondly, going up quietly, you will additionally examine the local houses, the life of ordinary San Mariners. This is definitely a plus.
2. We walk along a serpentine road, exploring all the sights along the way.
3. Having reached the very top, we delve into the study of the most popular attractions of San Marino and go around all the available towers.
4. We go down some other road, not the one we went up. Thus, there is an opportunity to capture something new :)
5. We get into the car and drive back to Rimini, satisfied and happy :)

A little history of San Marino

As I said, San Marino is a small mini-country with relatively little history for the European continent. According to legend, at the beginning of the fourth century AD, one of the stonemasons named Marino, along with his friends, found a place of solitude on the top of Mount Titano. Marino was similar in his image to a hermit monk, so this “style” of life invariably attracted many pilgrims, and later it was because of this that the first, small monastery was formed.

A certain sanctity of the Christian world, by the way, is really inherent in this place. Here, somehow, the current life seems to be even calmer and more carefree than in Italy itself. There are no noisy clubs here, residents do not stick out once again for show and do not climb with different offers to all tourists. Only at the top of the mountain, where tourist shops are located, is a trace of capitalism felt :)

• San Marino received full independence at the beginning of the ninth century, and the constitution was adopted only almost eight centuries later - in the 1600th year.
• During the First World War, this state was part of the Entente
• And during the Second World War, it was mistakenly bombed by Great Britain in suspicion of complicity with the Nazis, although the damage was not catastrophic
• In 1951, San Marino wanted to establish a casino on its territory, but Italy blockaded the country in protest. This helped and the San Marines surrendered.
• Since 1991, San Marino has become one way or another, but dependent on the decisions of the European Union
• In San Marino it is forbidden to transfer citizenship through the female line

San Marino attractions map

In order not to lay out a map each time for a single attraction, I throw off the version of our San Marino route with visits to all the main places and all three towers. By clicking on each point you will see the name in Russian, the sequence matches their description in this article.

You can also always use the signs and map that are directly in San Marino itself. This sometimes, believe me, greatly simplifies life :)

Sights of San Marino

Streets of San Marino

The first thing with which we, perhaps, will begin our story, or rather, we will give advice, a wish on how to start exploring this tiny country. Above, I said that it is advisable to leave the car at the very bottom and walk along the ordinary, city streets. Here you will not see the tourist rush that is happening at the top and therefore you can fully enjoy and feel the atmosphere of these road changes, endless steps and climbs :)

Observation deck and endlessly beautiful views

There are also specially equipped viewing platforms in San Marino. Here you can stop more calmly, look around and take a couple more shots from a higher shooting point :)

La Torretta - gastronomic break

While you are climbing to the top, you will most likely spend precious forces. In front of the entrance to the main ensemble of attractions of San Marino, there are several excellent and inexpensive establishments where you do not need to without fail pay for service :) We recommend one of them - La Torreta.

Church of San Francisco and gates in San Marino

We start from the Church of St. Francis (Chiesa di San Francesco), or rather from the entrance to the gate of the same name. This church is one of the oldest in San Marino. And the gates that guard the entrance to it were built in 1361, as one of the main posts for protecting not only the church, but the whole country.

By the way, what is noteworthy is that the construction of this religious object was initiated by Clement VII, who was afraid of the threat of one of the ruling clans in Rimini - Malatesta. When we wrote about the sights of Rimini, these "Malatesta" regularly appeared here and there :) Here is such an irony - some erect temples in honor of their rulers, others in honor of their own, but they all live in a very small area.

Titan Hotel. Freedom Square. Government Palace (Palazzo Pubblico).

The following three attractions are literally a few meters from each other, these are:

• Liberty Square (Piazza Libertà)
• Titano Hotel
• government palace

On Freedom Square, for example, there is a changing of the guard every 30 minutes from May to September from Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 13.30. I think there is no practical benefit from this changing of the guard, more to maintain some status and unusualness of the country :)

If he is talking about the government palace, then it is worth mentioning the very form of government of San Marino and how political power is structured in the country. San Marino is a classic republic where two captains-regents are the head of state. They are elected and appointed by a special council for a period of 6 months. By the way, there are sixty deputies in this council. And they are already elected by popular vote for a period of five years.

The government building itself was built relatively recently - at the end of the 19th century. The building style was neo-Gothic, popular at that time. And this gives it, admittedly, the image of a rather old castle. Classic battlements, pointed towers and of course the coat of arms of San Marino on the facade.

Cava dei Balestrieri (Crossbowmen Quarry)

We go further along Via Eugippo and come to the next attraction - the Quarry of the Crossbowmen. This quarry is an absolutely tourist attraction, which nevertheless was really carved into the rock. And here, oddly enough, competitions are really held among those who shoot from such weapons as a crossbow :)

Quarry of the Crossbowmen this moment is a kind of museum open sky. After all, it is here that the wonderful works of Italian masters are located - the sculptures of Minguzzi "Pieta", "Messina", "Female Figure", Bini "Bees", Crocetti "Ballerina", Greco "Skater".

Bizarre homemade figures

Let's take a break from the boring and boring historical facts:) San Marino is a very funny country with its own specific sense of humor. How else to explain the fact that all sorts of different bizarre mechanical animals are scattered all over the mountain in tourist places, which are made from improvised material :)

Towers of San Marino

Well, we are coming to the very highlight of the trip to San Marino - these are its famous three towers. All towers are located on Mount Titano. Only the first two of them are available for free visiting.

Prices for visiting the towers and opening hours

• Opening hours from September 11 to June 19: seven days a week from 9:00 to 17:00
• Opening hours from June 20 to September 10: seven days a week from 8:00 to 20:00

Cash desks close half an hour before the end of the working day.

The cost of visiting the towers:

• INTERO ticket - 4.5 euros - gives the right to visit one tower
• RIDOTTO ticket - 3.5 euros - entitles a group of more than 25 people to visit one tower, or children aged 6 to 12 years, or adults over 65 years old
• MULTIMUSEO ticket - 10.5 euros - gives a visit to both towers, valid for 10 days from the date of the first visit

Guaita Fortress - the first of the towers of San Marino

The first tower of San Marino is called Guaita. Or in another way (Prima Torre). As a matter of fact, this is the main symbol of the country, translated from Italian it sounds like the “First Tower”. It was built with the aim of using it as a prison, a fortress to protect the city. At the moment, Guaita is the most popular among all the attractions of San Marino, in addition to the beautiful views that open from it - there is also a place for religion - on the south side is the Catholic chapel of St. Barbara (Cappella di Santa Barbara).

Cesta Fortress (Chesta) - the second tower of San Marino

The second, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the towers is Chesta (La Cesta). Or you can come across such names as Fratta, Seconda Torre. It is also located on Mount Titano at an altitude of about 800 meters. From here, one of the most beautiful views of the nearby territories opens; it is not for nothing that even in the Roman era this place was an observation and stronghold.

Torre Montale - Tower of Montale

Well, the last attraction for today is the third tower of Montale (Terza Torre). Translated from our native Italian means third tower. It's amazing, isn't it? :) :) This tower had no paths to the two previous towers before. Only after several reconstructions did it become possible to walk to it from the second tower of Chesta.

They built it again in order to protect against the previously mentioned authorities of the Malatesta clan :) It served as a signal tower from the attack of enemy troops. Well, I repeat, visiting this tower is limited.