3 days ago
Little country surrounded by Italy has no airport and just 34,000 residents
Europe is full of wonder. From the continent's highest capital, only accessible through France or Spain, to an airport that drops you in three countries at once, it's also home to the world's best beach and its most walkable city.
Tried-and-tested destinations like Paris and Barcelona are popular for good reason. But Europe still has plenty of untapped gems left to explore.
One of these is San Marino, which, like Andorra, you can only reach by travelling through another country first. This time, Italy.
Nestled comfortably on the calf of the country's famous boot, the tiny mountainous microstate is surrounded by north-central Italy from every angle. It has no airport. There's not even a train station.
At just 61 km², it's so small that you could fit approximately 3,994 San Marinos into the UK. And, with around 34,000 permanent residents, London's population is more than 250 times larger.
But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in history, culture, architecture, and natural beauty.
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Travellers describe San Marino as incredible, and many recommend tacking it onto an itinerary if you're travelling through Italy.
On Reddit, one person called it the 'coolest place' they've been, ever, while another described it as one of the quaintest places in Europe.
From the UK, the journey to San Marino is a little circuitous.
The closest major airport is Rimini Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI) in Rimini, Italy, around 11 miles away. Other nearby airports include Florence, Bologna, and Venice.
Getting to Rimini won't break the bank. A one-way Ryanair flight from London Stansted on June 25 is £13, and takes around 2 hours 15 minutes.
From the airport to San Marino, you have multiple options depending on your budget.
The quickest route is a taxi, which you can book in advance. The journey into central San Marino takes around half an hour, and based on one person with luggage costs approximately €95 (£80).
Like any taxi directly from the airport (taking into consideration which part of the country you're travelling to, the taxi company, and extra fees like night rates or pickup charges), prices can vary.
The cheaper option is a combination of trains and buses. First, you'll need to take a train from Rimini Airport to Rimini Central Station. This takes around 8 minutes and costs between €1 and €4 (84p-£3.38).
Then, walk over the road from the station to the bus stop. There should be a kiosk near Burger King, where you can purchase tickets to San Marino Bus Station. There are two main bus services, operated by Bonelli Bus or Benedettini, both of which take around 45 to 50 minutes. Tickets start from €7 (£5.91).
As the fifth-smallest country in the world, San Marino makes for a perfect day trip destination from Italy.
But while you can whiz through the sights in 24 hours, many recommend sticking around for at least a couple of days to get a feel of the place.
San Marino is an excellent choice for history lovers. It's the oldest republic in the world, founded over 17 centuries ago. Though it claims to have been an independent state since 301, the Holy See (the universal government of the Catholic Church) confirmed its independence in 1631.
With age comes some pretty spectacular architecture. For example, the Basilica di San Marino: the country's most sacred building is not only dedicated to Saint Marino, the founder of the Republic, it also preserves the relics of the patron. The church is open for daily worship and visitors can marvel at the neoclassical building, mosaic floor, and elaborate statues for free.
There's also the Three Towers of San Marino, located on the three peaks of the capital's Monte Titano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest and most famous is Guaita, which served briefly as a prison in the 11th century. The second, Cesta, is home to a museum in honour of Saint Marinus, where you'll find Medieval Arms. The third tower, Montale, was constructed in the 14th century, but is not open to the public.
A San Marino Musei Pass allows access to multiple museums, including the Cesta Tower, and costs €11 (£9.28). Even if you're not into history, the short hike to the top of the towers offers panoramic views of the surrounding Italian countryside and coastline. @two_travelling_teachers_
Things we recommend doing on your trip to San Marino: 1. Walk up to the main city from the Borgo Maggiore car park (where the cable car starts), a lovely shaded walk and good for getting the heart rate up! 2. Visit the 3 towers! 2 of these 3 defensive towers are open to the public and entrance for them together is €6pp. The walk between these towers is particularly scenic, as well as the views from the towers themselves – this was a highlight of the visit 3. Public palace + Piazza Liberta, snap a pic and enjoy a moment at this important government building and enjoy the views from the piazza! 4. Basilica deal Santo, an 18th century Catholic basilica dedicated to the patron Saint of San Marino. 5. The views around Cava dei Balestrieri, (an old quarry from the 1800's) where you can find today, some of the most lovely views with cafes and restaurants dotted along the viewpoint to soak up these views from. 6. Liburni garden, a small peaceful garden with with a large fountain at the centre. 7. Tax free shopping- if you didn't already know San Marino is famous amongst Italians as a destination for our led shopping due to its VAT free status! 8. The cable car is a great and scenic way to access the city from the bottom without hassle! Costs are €2.80 one way or €4.50 return per person! Enjoy your trip to San Marino! . . . . . . . . #sanmarino #sanmarino #daytrip #slowtravel #exploreitaly ♬ original sound – char 🇵🇸
After a day of sightseeing, head to Piazza della Libertà, San Marino's main square. It's the heartbeat of the Republic, and a popular meeting place for both tourists and locals.
The standout here is the Statue of Liberty, a marble sculpture created by the Italian artist Stefano Galletti. It's a stunning addition to the many cafes and restaurants in the square, which offer al fresco dining in summer months.
No trip to San Marino is complete without trying the famous Torta Tre Monti. Translating to 'Three Mountain Cake,' this traditional Sammarinese delicacy – which represents the three towers – is made from layers of thin waffled wafers, filled with chocolate or hazelnut crème. It's then covered in a chocolate fondant. (Sammarinese refers to the people, language, and culture of San Marino.)
The dessert isn't hard to find. It's a staple of San Marino's food scene, with many bakeries and cafes selling the dish.
Sammarinese cuisine is similar to Italian. After all, it's a landlocked country, meaning it shares ingredients and a strong culinary heritage with its neighbours.
Key dishes that scream San Marino include Piadina, a thin flatbread often served as street food. It's folded and filled with meats like salami and prosciutto, plus cheeses like stracchino or mozzarella.
Strozzapreti, an elongated hand-rolled pasta, is also popular here. So is polenta sul tagliere (meaning polenta on a cutting board), which is accompanied by sausage gravy and grated pecorino cheese.
According to TripAdvisor, one of the best restaurants in San Marino is La Terrazza Ristorante, an Italian and Mediterranean eatery.
With unspoiled landscapes of verdant countryside and medieval buildings, previous diners have labelled it as serving 'delicious and delicate dishes' with 'a priceless view.'
And prices aren't astronomical. A main dish of Cappellacci filled with ricotta and spinach, tomato sauce, and basil oil costs €16 (£13.51), while Grilled beef, carrot cream, rosemary, baked shallots, and brown beef sauce costs €22 (£18.57).
For something more rustic, try Il Piccolo, an underground restaurant carved into the rock. The establishment has been praised by previous diners for its impeccable service and high-quality food, all of which don't cost the earth. Ravioli stuffed with sea bass is only €12 (£10), and scampi, porcini mushrooms, and truffle is €15 (£12.66).
Once you're done gorging on San Marino's delicious but affordable food, use some of the change for a shopping trip. The country is known for its lighter tax rates, meaning you can snap up luxury products from high-end boutiques, or local crafts and products for a cheaper price.
San Marino enjoys a humid subtropical climate, meaning summers are warm and dry, and the winters are cool. More Trending
From December on, expect light snowfall, which is typical for inland areas of the central Italian Peninsula. Temperatures average around 4°C during this time, but can drop to -4°C.
During summer, temperatures rise to a comfortable 25°C, while spring and autumn can range between 13°C and 20°C.
Whichever month you visit depends on your travel preferences. But one thing's for sure, rain, shine, or snowfall, you won't be disappointed by San Marino's beauty.
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