San Marino

The Republic of San Marino is a dwarf state and an enclave within Italy. It is located near Rimini, and is about a 1.5-hour drive from Casa Bosco. San Marino is said to have been founded in 301 by Saint Marinus, a monk and stonemason who tried to escape the Christian persecutions of Emperor Diocletian.

The capital, San Marino Città, is an attraction in itself. You enter the walled center through one of the entrance gates. The main sights are the three towers of the city, the Guaita, the Cesta and the Montale, built on the peaks of Mount Titano (749 meters high). The Guaita and the Cesta can be visited and offer fantastic views of San Marino and the surrounding area.

If you choose to just wander through the medieval town, it wil easily take two to four hours. Along the way you come across many stores, where you can often shop tax-free. Alcohol and cigarettes in particular are a lot cheaper than in Italy. Because of all these tax-free shops, the city does look a bit touristy.

The heart of San Marino is Piazza della Libertà, or Liberty Square. This is one of the most visited places, along with the changing of the guard at the Palazzo Pubblico.

The Basilica di San Marino is a Catholic church with great historical and religious significance, which you can visit for free.

If you want to see something more of San Marino than the walled city center of San Marino Città, you can take the cable car to the lower-situated Borgo Maggiore.