Mysterious European country of San Marino – tiny landlocked nation you've never heard of that's competing in Eurovision
OF ALL the countries in the world, San Marino is the fifth smallest but has a lot to boast about.
Completely landlocked and surrounded by Italy, San Marino is the world's oldest surviving sovereign state.
7
7
7
It is close to the Adriatic Coast and the closest Italian city is Rimini.
Despite only being 24-square-miles, the capital - Città di San Marino - is home to a wealth of history and views, due to being located 739 metres above sea level.
Located in the city, travellers will find Monte Titano - one of the nine Castelli which make up San Marino.
As if ripped out of a storybook, Monte Titano features an extravagant tower with has panoramic view s of the surrounding landscape and beyond into Italy.
On Monte Titano, visitors will find the most famous spot in San Marino - the Cesta tower.
Cesta is part of the Three Towers in the Old Town, which is pedestrian so involves walking along narrow cobbled streets.
The Three Towers - also known as Guaita, Cesta and Montale - are located at the very top of Monte Titano.
The towers are depicted on San Marino's coat of arms and national flag.
The first tower - Guaita - is the oldest of the three.
It was constructed in the 11th century and served briefly as a prison.
I visited the tiny island that is Italy's best kept secret and you can avoid the summer crowds
The second tower - Cesta - is a museum to honour Saint Marinus and showcases over 1,550 weapons dating from the Medieval era to the modern day.
The third tower - Montale - is located on the smallest of Monte Titano's summits.
However, unlike the others, it is not open to the public.
Between the first and second tower, there is the Witches Path - a cobblestone walkway which leads directly up to the Guaita Tower.
Tickets to enter both the Guaita and Cesta Towers costs €9 (£7.58) per person or a combined ticket, which includes both towers and several museums in San Marino, costs €11 (£9.26).
One recent visitor said: "The Old Town of San Marino is really nice, spotless, tidy and although full of shops of all kinds it doesn't give you the feeling of being in an outdoor shopping mall at all.
"Nice buildings, nice alleys and toilets everywhere."
Getting to San Marino is not the easiest though.
7
7
7
The small country has no airport or train station, meaning it is only accessible by car or bus.
The closest major international airport is in Bologna, about 80 miles away.
Most travellers will head to San Marino via the Bonelli Bus, which travels from Rimini - it takes just under an hour and costs €6 (£5.05) each way.
San Marino also has no border control, but you will still need a valid passport to visit and the same entry requirements apply in San Marino as in Italy.
One thing worth noting, if you do plan to visit San Marino, is that there are a lot of steps, narrow paths and cobblestones - so it is not the most accessible place to visit and you will definitely need a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
The hottest month to visit is July, where temperatures can reach up to 25C.
Plus, the little-known Italian town dubbed the 'city of ice cream', which has sandy beaches and £15 UK flights.
7
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
I got my hands on Primark's viral £25 Ryanair-approved cabin bag – it ‘fits everything', has wheels & saved me £60
PRIMARK shoppers are raving about a viral cabin bag that's perfect for Ryanair flights. So if you're lucky enough to be jetting on holiday any time soon and don't fancy splashing the cash on hold luggage, then you've come to the right place. 5 5 Thanks to the new pull-along cabin bag from Primark, not only will you travel in style for your next trip, but you'll be able to fit in everything you need whilst saving on hold luggage costs. Hayley Rubery, a young woman from Norfolk, was able to get her hands on the ' viral Ryanair-approved bag' when shopping in a Primark store in Manchester. Thrilled with her purse-friendly find, the content creator who is known online as 'your budgeting bestie', took to social media to give her followers a close-up look at her new purchase. Showing off the bag which she nabbed in black, Hayley beamed: 'Come with me to pick up the £25 viral Ryanair-approved cabin bag from Primark.' Hayley then explained: 'I'm off to Italy next week and refuse to pay £60 extra for a small suitcase, when the flight itself was only £60. 'This little bag is everywhere right now and for good reason - it's the exact size for a Ryanair-approved cabin bag. 'I love that it's got wheels and a handle which will make it so much easier when travelling.' Not only was Hayley able to save £60 on the hold luggage fee thanks to this high-street buy, but she also nabbed herself some cheap packing cubes and travel pouches to keep herself organised. Moments later, Hayley asked: 'I'm going for four nights, do you reckon I can fit everything in here? Challenge accepted.' Once Hayley had arrived home, she began packing the Trolley Cabin Bag, which is available to buy online with the chain's new Click & Collect service, or in stores now, for just £25. Shoppers rush to snap up Primark's 'underseat suitcase' which is perfect for holidays & it also has removable wheels if you need it to be even smaller Not only did she fit in a packing cube full of clothes, but she also added a toiletry bag and her Kindle too. According to Primark bosses, with this cabin bag, you are guaranteed to 'travel in style.' Why is Primark the place to go to for bargains? JUST how does Primark do it? Continue delivering on-trend items at such incredible prices? According to bosses, it's down to four points. They "sell a lot of items" - Thanks to that, they are able to make savings by buying in bulk for their 191 UK stores They "do very little advertising" While their clothes offer the "latest trends", they "don't use expensive hangers, tags or labels". And lastly, they try to be "as efficient as possible when transporting products from factories to stores". This includes things like asking "suppliers to pack our t-shirts so they are ready to go straight on shelf". For more information about how Primark keeps their costs so low, and are able to deliver such amazing bargains, visit the Primark website. There's three designs to choose from - black, leopard print and zebra print. Not only is it 'perfectly sized for essentials', but it also benefits from a large main compartment with a secure zip fastening, as well as an external zipped pocket for extra organisation. Bargain hunters beam Hayley's TikTok clip, which she posted under the username @ hayleyrubery_, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 186,000 views, 2,286 likes and 34 comments. Top Primark summer buys IF you're looking for more Primark summer buys, then you've come to the right place. Shoppers have recently been raving about the new Miffy PJs from Primark. Others were desperate to nab the new leopard print nightwear. If animal print is your thing, you'll want to check out the new maxi skirts. The haltnerneck tops are perfect for summer. If you're on a budget, these trousers are identical to a pair from Zara, but without the hefty price tag. There's brilliant travel essentials for less than £10. And if you plan on heading to the beach, you won't want to miss these crochet bags. One person said: 'I've got that in leopard - fits everything and I've flown Ryanair in it.' Another added: 'I've used it four times in the last two weeks. Fits loads. Never stopped by Ryanair.' A third commented: 'I've got the leopard print one, fits in their box perfectly.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
World Cup predictions: Friday qualifiers tips and odds
Our expert has tips for all six of Friday's World Cup qualifiers involving European nations, which include Norway vs Italy and Wales vs Liechtenstein. Among them, we think a low-scoring win is on the cards for the beaten 2018 finalists Croatia when they visit Gibraltar. Czechia vs Montenegro: Patrik Schick to score @ 11/8 with Sky Bet Estonia vs Israel: Israel to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 @ 6/4 with Sky Bet Gibraltar vs Croatia: Croatia to win and under 4.5 goals @ 4/5 with Sky Bet North Macedonia vs Belgium: Isnik Alimi to be carded @ 11/4 with Sky Bet Norway vs Italy: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 11/10 with Sky Bet Wales vs Liechtenstein: Wales to have 11+ shots on target @ 11/8 with Sky Bet Odds courtesy of Sky Bet Correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a Sky Bet member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Czechia vs Montenegro (kick-off, 7.45pm BST) Something's got to give in this clash between Czechia and Montenegro, who both have six points from two games in Group L, and Patrik Schick's clinical eye for goal could be the difference. The Czechia centre-forward has netted three times in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and only Harry Kane (26) bettered his total of 21 goals in the Bundesliga this season. Estonia vs Israel (kick-off, 7.45pm BST) Israel defeated Estonia 2-1 in Hungary back in March and a similar scoreline could be on the cards when the teams reconvene in Tallinn. Estonia do not offer a lot up front, so will be reliant on their defence to get something out of this contest, and each of their previous three matches has been settled by a single-goal margin. Gibraltar vs Croatia (kick-off, 7.45pm BST) Croatia begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Gibraltar at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal and the minnows have it in them to keep the score down, even if Croatia do win as expected. Gibraltar have lost their first two qualifiers 4-0 and 3-1 against Czechia and Montenegro, but before that they were unbeaten in seven games, six of which featured under 2.5 goals, and that run began with a 0-0 draw against Wales. North Macedonia vs Belgium (kick-off, 7.45pm BST) Englishman Chris Kavanagh will referee Friday's match in Skopje and, given he has averaged 4.89 yellow cards in all competitions this season, the caution count could be on the high side. The home nation's midfielder Isnik Alimi could be worth a bet to go into the book, having committed three fouls in his country's last three matches and picked up yellow cards in games against the Faroe Islands in September and November last year. Norway vs Italy (kick-off, 7.45pm BST) Norway have scored nine times across their first two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Israel and they can contribute to another high-scoring affair against Italy in Oslo on Friday. There is plenty of attacking firepower in the Norway squad with Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth and Jorgen Strand Larsen all involved, and both teams to score and over 2.5 goals looks overpriced at 11/10, given it has clicked in seven of Italy's last eight games and nine of Norway's previous 10. Wales vs Liechtenstein (kick-off, 7.45pm BST) Liechtenstein's World Cup qualifying campaign has started with 3-0 and 2-0 defeats against North Macedonia and Kazakhstan respectively and they could be in for another tough night in Cardiff. Across those two defeats Liechtenstein allowed 33 shots, 11 of which were on target, and Wales look a decent bet to manage 11+ shots on target on their own at 11/8, with Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson in the starting line-up.
Times
a day ago
- Times
Tuscany's lesser-known wine region with a stylish new stay
Carving up the Montepulciano countryside in a Fiat Punto — unofficial vehicle of Tuscany — the fields are so resoundingly green that I have to squint to protect my eyes from the sting. Around every bend is an enchanting panorama, and I find myself snapping photos of the same composition many times over: an elegant ruin on an olive grove; a cupola-topped neoclassical manor; a vineyard with rows so meticulous, they seem groomed by a wide-tooth comb. The ancient landscape never gets old — it's what has kept discerning travellers coming here since the Grand Tour. I've come to this bijou region south of Siena in part to stay at the new vineyard resort Poggio alla Sala, a regal ochre-coloured villa built in the 1800s on a gentle rise near the Umbrian border, overlooking a valley once occupied by Romans. It has been refurbished, brightened and stuffed with lush greenery that houseplant-shames me at every turn. An enfilade of winter garden, lounge and vaulted dining room exhibits intricate ceiling frescoes, restored to their original splendour with Sistine Chapel-calibre precision. From the foyer you can see straight through the rear doors, flung open to the old winery. Rooms upstairs and in the former orangery and stables have been fitted with deep mosaic-tile baths and massive pivoting windows that take in the dramatic vineyard views. Guests have been checking in to Poggio alla Sala lately for its three pools, whose edges are lined with cypress trees and sumptuous loungers to offset the silk caftans and Orlebar Brown trunks. And of course it has all of Tuscany at its feet: the rollercoaster roads of the Val d'Orcia run right outside, swinging past the 100-year-old gardens of La Foce, which fan out from a flaxen-yellow manor (from £8; And if you carry on past Montepulciano proper, you can taste Tuscany's famous Chianina beef at La Toraia in view — for better or worse — of the farm's cattle (mains from £12; But even during colder months the resort will draw visitors with its historic wine cellar, open for free tastings twice a week. The Montepulciano wines may not be as popular worldwide as chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, the region's other deep, fruity, head-buzzing reds, but they are as dear to Tuscan farmers as the small-batch extra virgin 'green gold' oil that never seems to taste as good outside this ancient, mineral-rich terroir, or terreno. Drinking these wines is close to a religion around here — although for me, a lifetime fan, it's something far more carnal. As a devotee of reds, I've always gravitated toward their rich, tannic sharpness when I can afford it. I may have dabbled in whites in my youth, but once I went red, I never looked back. Until recently, the finest Montepulcianos were called thevino nobiles and were produced with the native prugnolo gentile grape. Nobiles were the reserve of clerics and kings going back to the first fermentations in the 14th century, and served as currency when dealing with the aristocrats of Florence. Today's winemakers, however, are hard at work preparing for a new chapter in vino nobile history, which brings me to the second reason I've come for a visit. • Read our full guide to Tuscany This year, in an effort to showcase the nuanced terroir, the consortium of vintners introduced a new classification of top-of-the-line nobiles called pieve. They remapped the region according to 12 medieval pievi, or parishes, bordered by ancient roads and rivers, and invited winemakers within each to make small batches tied exclusively to their specific soil, aspect, elevation and weather, using no less than 85 per cent of prugnolo gentile (the threshold for a regular nobile is 75 per cent). The first bottles finally matured this winter, meaning wine-lovers like me can start tasting Montepulciano in literally a dozen new ways — including at Poggio alla Sala, which will carry the new Pieve Sant'Albino from the autumn. As the vintner Marco Castignani tells me: 'This is a renaissance of the wine. For the first time we can finally map the taste profile of our different terroir.' And because the batch is relatively small, it won't be exported. 'You will have to enjoy it here, at our special tastings for customers.' Castignani's wine estate, Fattoria del Cerro, unfurls along one of the most breathtaking roads in the region: an undulating single lane marked out by the Etruscans about five miles east of Montepulciano town. With labrador-puppy energy, he takes me around the Cerro vineyards in his Fiat, from the hilltop villa hotel, obscured by stone pines, across 600 hectares bordered by olive groves and peach trees. Once upon a time the land was covered with forest, then in about 1100 the noble families here donated much of the woodland to the church. Gradually farmers moved in and now Cerro's steely new winery produces more than a million bottles of Montepulciano reds annually. In August Castignani will debut 3,000 bottles of Pieve Sant'Ilario to showcase the silty, calcium-rich soil (cellar visit and tasting from £50; Other wineries — about half a dozen — are also releasing their pieves this summer, but during my visit in spring, bottles are scarce. • 29 of the best hotels in Tuscany The new designation is a back-to-basics move for a product inextricably tied to church, religion and the earth. 'The first mention of wine here was in an ancient story from 1377,' Castignani says. 'It was written that a person from one pieve sent a litre of wine each month to another pieve. So the pieve is tied to our original winemaking story.' And while the French are known to share a bottle of wine at dinner with a school-age child, here in Montepulciano the idea is absurd: 'In school? Ten years old? This is too late! You will put the wine to their lips at the baptism.' To truly appreciate the micro-differences in the pieve it helps to be a wine aficionado, but Cerro is preparing for a revolution anyway, adding a contemporary guesthouse and renovating dozens of historic winemakers' cottages. The idea is that visitors can use the new pieve map as a guide through Montepulciano and spend the night near the source of their favourite wines. Adapting bygone infrastructure is essential in this dearly protected yet heavily visited destination to draw people away from the busy hilltop town of Montepulciano proper and into the old-world surroundings. The town is a prize attraction for the region, a crescendo of honeyed stucco with a cobbled square at its pinnacle designed by the Medicis' architect. When I climb up on a March afternoon after my visit to Cerro, the steep lanes are almost eerily quiet. I turn back every few metres to enjoy views to the crenellated clock tower and over the city gates to the bulbous Madonna di San Biagio church without having to will away a sea of tourists. But I know how crowds and heat can kill the vibe in August. By the time I reach Talosa, a 16th-century winery built on an Etruscan foundation between two historic palaces, I feel I've earned a glass of Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva in the cellar. I drink it with a plate of bruschetta doused with virgin olive oil from Talosa's groves and inhale the thick, ripe air like one might the pheromones of a lover (tour and tasting from £25; In a stroke of good timing, I see only one couple my entire visit. • 11 of the best things to do in Tuscany By my last afternoon in the area, I've nearly lost hope that a bottle of the elusive pieve will materialise this early in the year. Driving up a cliffside road towards lunch in the old frontier town of Torrita di Siena, I turn off to try my luck at Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano, a co-operative winery with a sweeping new shop ( — and I don't get a definitive no. While I explore the barrels in the cellar and the vino nobiles on the shelves, a phone call is made and a breathless manager called Tiziana Mazzetti runs in with a bottle of Pieve Cervognano by Redi, sourced from an 18-year-old vineyard in the eastern Cervognano region, about three miles east of where we are. It'll be the first pieve on the market in a few weeks' time. At a sunny table by the full-height windows, Mazzetti pours me a taster, then pours more when I attack it like a thirsty poodle. I'm being completely honest when I say how easy it is on the tongue; how soft and smooth it feels, leaving behind a fruity tingle. Compared with the sharper nobile Mazzetti uncorks for contrast, it's like rich red velvet. 'Some wines, like this, are elegant and soft,' she says, passing me a slice of pecorino from Pienza, the town down the road. 'Others have a 'big shoulder' — more presence. You'll see. It's not only about age. It's about the differences between soil and history.' I'm surprised my untrained palate is able to detect the subtle distinctions — this is wine-tasting at a granular level. But it does, which is why I believe wine-lovers might do well to put down the chianti and rediscover this well-trod region in a biblical sense. • 16 of the best vineyard hotels in Tuscany 'Vino nobile didn't have much identity,' Mazzetti says. 'But in our little terroir we have 12 types of soil; 12 histories. What was our weakness is now our strength.'Ellen Himelfarb was a guest of Poggio alla Sala, which has room-only doubles from £303 ( and of Valdichiana Living, which offers six-hour winery tours around Montepulciano from £200pp ( Fly to Florence This dramatic turreted hilltop castle towers over Monferrato's Po Valley and has views towards the Alps in northwest Italy. The 260-hectare estate dates from the 8th century and spans two DOCs, Gabiano and Rubino di Cantavenna. Suites are dotted throughout the grounds and all have castle views and classic decor, with cream plastered walls, exposed ceiling beams, oak shutters and modern four-posters. There's a pool and private lake for fishing, bikes to borrow and cooking classes, while guests can sample homegrown wines in the tasting room overlooking the vineyards. The restaurant's set menus feature fruit and vegetables grown in the castle's Room-only doubles from £151 ( Fly to Turin Perched on a plateau 210m above sea level and surrounded by 170 hectares of vineyards, olive trees and dry-stone walls, Masseria Amastuola is a low-rise whitewashed farmhouse with 18 rooms near Italy's south coast. All are in earthy neutral shades with antique furniture but a modern, streamlined look. There's also a restaurant serving typical Puglian dishes, a barrel room and two tasting rooms to try the estate's own organic wines, including primitivo and negroamaro. Guests can join yoga classes, borrow bikes or explore the local area, with the Unesco-listed city of Matera and the coastal town of Polignano a Mare both about an hour's drive B&B doubles from £142 ( Fly to Bari There's fizz aplenty at this hotel in the Prosecco region, an hour's drive north of Venice. The grand neoclassical building was built in the 18th century as the summer home for a noble family, then was later used as headquarters by German armed forces in the Second World War. The restored boutique hotel has since hosted such stars as Sophia Loren and has 39 individually designed rooms overlooking parkland, all with exposed beams, glossy wooden floors and contemporary styling. There's an outdoor swimming pool, spa, ebikes and a restaurant. The village marks the start of La Strada del Prosecco, a wine route that traces the sparkling wine's history via wineries for Room-onlydoubles from £121 ( Fly to Treviso
