When you go to San Marino, put on comfortable shoes and have an empty stomach, because towers rising on sharp peaks and cuisine inspired by Italian, i.e. irresistible and full of aromas, await you.
Not small, but miniature
Only about 33,000 people can claim to be citizens of San Marino (or the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, as the country is officially called). For comparison, according to the latest census, about 45,000 people live in Asenovgrad. The miniature country, the fifth smallest in the world and third in Europe after the Vatican and Monaco, is convenient and quick to explore. Although it has nine municipalities, you will most likely only see one - San Marino, where the capital of the same name is located.
If you are traveling in Italy, a convenient starting point for visiting San Marino is the coastal city of Rimini or - with a transfer - Bologna. There are buses from Rimini several times a day, even in winter. In summer, you must buy a ticket in advance online, but in the colder months you can do it directly from the driver. The price is 6 euros one way, and the journey takes about 50 minutes.
The weather changes at every turn
Although it is very close to the Adriatic Sea, San Marino is landlocked and is located entirely on the slopes of the Apennines. When the bus from Rimini starts to climb the zigzag road up to the capital, the weather changes literally at every turn. On the flat by the sea it is sunny, even though it is December. In the middle we enter a cloud that has covered the entire high parts of the country, and as soon as we enter the capital, it snows, mixed with rain.
Walking around San Marino
The entire historic part of the capital San Marino exudes antiquity - from the buildings and stone benches to the fortress walls and the three emblematic towers that start every city tour. Keep in mind that San Marino is not a destination for those with heels - here the directions are up, down and on the stairs, and sometimes a combination of all three!
The old town of San Marino
The old town is pleasant for walking - the neoclassical Palazzo Pubblico (the main administrative building), stone streets, ancient buildings and a surprisingly large number of perfume shops. Due to the lack of customs duties in the microstate, you can find your favorite perfumes here at surprising prices (as well as many imitation perfumes, of course). Souvenirs, leather bags, collector's stamps are also sold.
Tables in restaurants fill up pretty quickly, so if you like the view and the menu, don't wait long. Many restaurants are open until 3pm and then close until dinner. The menu features familiar Italian dishes, mainly piadina, which is a sandwich with cheese and cured meats, but also excellent pasta and pizza. San Marino grows a small amount of grapes, mainly the San Giovese variety, so you can at least try some locally produced wine. The local dessert Tre Monti (translated as the three peaks) symbolizes the three towers and is a type of cake that you will hardly find on the menus of restaurants in the old town.
Museums
For such a small country, San Marino has a surprisingly large number of museums - 12 state (State Museum, Museum of Coins and Stamps, Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Museum of Ancient Weapons, etc.) and 6 private (from the Museum of Oddities to the Museum of Torture and the Museum of Vampires and Werewolves). If the crowds of tourists on the streets get too much for you, take a break in the silence of the Basilica of San Marino, dedicated to the founder of the state - Saint Marinus.
San Marino proves that pleasant experiences can come in
small packages. One day is enough to explore the country's capital, and
although its territory is small, you will still like something to take home -
in your backpack or in your heart.
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