San Marino became my 30th country to visit, marking a milestone on my ’30 at 30’ travel list. I embarked on this journey by bus from Rimini, Italy, and the one-hour ride led me to the heart of this enchanting micro-country. The final stop dropped me off in the midst of the grand castle and historic old town. Despite its official title as the ‘Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino,’ the first thing that caught my eye upon arrival was the array of knives, swords, and guns proudly displayed in various souvenir shops.
Stepping through the main entrance, I found myself at the Museum of Torture, an intriguing but somewhat macabre introduction to this unique destination. The winding, cobblestone streets of San Marino were a delightful maze, characterized by asymmetrical architecture that could easily lead you astray or have you retracing your steps if you didn’t adhere to the map.
I opted for a two-entrance ticket, granting me access to the first tower, ‘Rocca o Guaita,’ and ‘Palazzo Publico.’ Unfortunately, the Museum of Torture was not part of this ticket package. Climbing to the pinnacle of the first tower, I was treated to a breathtaking view of the second tower, ‘Cesta o Fratta.’ These two towers are linked by ‘Il passo delle Streghe,’ a picturesque pathway with descending stairs offering a view reminiscent of scenes from a Disney fairytale. Legend has it that during the Middle Ages, witches congregated here to perform their rituals.
The ‘Public Palace’ serves as a living testament to the state’s historical governance. While some traditions persist, their functions have evolved over time, adapting to the modern era.
Though San Marino uses the Euro as its currency, is part of the European Union, and has Italian as its official language, the country retains unique characteristics such as its distinctive license plates. For lunch, I indulged in a ‘Paidina,’ all while savoring the captivating vistas from ‘Monte Titano.’ Although Titano is technically considered a mountain, its 739-meter elevation gives it more of a hill-like appearance. Nevertheless, the sight of the towers against the backdrop is truly fascinating.
Wandering through the old town is effortless, and it’s easy to see why around 20% of San Marino’s GDP is derived from tourism. They certainly know how to make your visit memorable. On a slightly offbeat note, I came across some graffiti in one of the public restrooms.
My overall experience in San Marino lasted approximately 3–4 hours, and I wholeheartedly recommend exploring the world’s fifth smallest country if you find yourself within a two-hour drive of it.
