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Republic of San Marino
San Marino.
The Second Tower (Cesta) lit at dusk on the summit of Mount Titano, above a sea of clouds
San Marino Tourism

The Republic of
San Marino

A guide to the oldest sovereign state in Europe: nine Castelli, Three Towers on the summit of Mount Titano, a UNESCO World Heritage historic centre and a calendar of events that mark the year.

Founded
301 AD
Area
61.19 km²
Residents
34,059
Castelli
9

Data as of 31 March 2025 · Source: Office of Statistics, Republic of San Marino

§ I — What you find here

Four ways to discover San Marino

§ Visit

Things to see

Three Towers, monuments, museums and places of memory in the historic centre and the lower Castelli.

Explore
§ Stay

Where to sleep

Hotels in the historic centre and the Castelli, campsites and motorhome areas, panoramic restaurants and stand-up piadina counters.

Plan
§ Move

How to reach

SS72 highway from Rimini, buses from the railway station, reference airports and partner car parks.

Find your way
§ Live it

The events

Feast of Saint Agatha, Medieval Days, Sunrise on the Mount, Mi Gusto and the Christmas of Wonders in the historic centre.

Calendar
§ II — Identity

The oldest Republic

The Republic of San Marino spreads across 61.19 km² of hills and slopes between Emilia-Romagna and Marche. At the heart of its territory rises Mount Titano, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the historic centre since 2008. Tradition places the foundation on 3 September AD 301, when Marinus the stonecutter saint, fleeing the persecutions of Diocletian, is said to have sought refuge on the summit and founded a small Christian community.

The official name is the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. Its institutions have survived, adapting, for more than seventeen centuries: the Great and General Council, the Regency formed by the two Captains Regent who alternate every six months, and the Arengo as historical assembly. A political model that Sammarinese history has preserved through Napoleonic invasions, attempted annexations and two world wars.

Today the Republic is a modern country, a member of the Council of Europe and the United Nations, with an economy of services and small manufacturing. It still keeps a strong identity: the institutional ceremonies, monetary autonomy with the issue of coins and stamps, the bond with Mount Titano as a living symbol and not just a postcard view.

«Relinquo vos liberos ab utroque homine»
— Words attributed to Saint Marinus, cited in the Statutes of the Republic
§ III — Geography

The nine Castelli

The territory of the Republic is divided into nine Castelli (municipalities), the autonomous administrative communities that inherit the legacy of the ancient parishes. Each elects its own Giunta di Castello (municipal council) every five years. The Castello of the City of San Marino, on the Titano, hosts the institutional core; the lower Castelli distribute farming, light industry and rural life.

The nine Castelli of the Republic of San Marino
Castello Position Character
City of San MarinoMount Titano, on the summitInstitutional capital, UNESCO old town
Borgo MaggioreAt the foot of the TitanoPiazza Grande, lower cableway station
SerravalleEastern lowlandThe most populated, productive hub
AcquavivaWestern hillsBaldasserona Cliff, origins of the Republic
ChiesanuovaSouth-western slopeWoods and ancient pathways
DomagnanoNorth, on the SS72Lombard Treasure of Domagnano
FaetanoEast, towards the borderArtisan ceramics, ancient clock
FiorentinoSouth-eastMedieval fortress and rural landscape
MontegiardinoSouthThe smallest of the nine Castelli

In depth · The Castelli of San Marino

§ IV — Getting started

First time in San Marino?

Three practical steps to plan your visit, from picking the right car park to the cableway ticket and the first view from the First Tower.

  1. 01.

    Arrive by car or by public transport

    The fastest access is the SS72 highway from Rimini Sud, 22 km from the toll. From Rimini railway station and airport direct buses run to the historic centre. How to reach in detail.

  2. 02.

    Park outside the limited-traffic zone

    The historic centre is restricted to traffic. Eleven public car parks serve the City and Borgo Maggiore. Guests of partner hotels pay € 6.00 per night.

  3. 03.

    Reach the historic centre

    On foot from car parks P1 to P4, with the panoramic lifts of the multi-storey P9, or with the cableway from the lower station of Borgo Maggiore. Departures every 15 minutes from 07:45.

§ VI — Table and shop

Products, windows, recipes

The Sammarinese kitchen shares roots with Romagna and develops its own dishes: passatelli, tagliolini with herbs, rabbit alla porchetta, Three Towers Cake. Shopping moves around three poles: workshops in the historic centre with ceramics and craftwork, brand stores along the SS72, and the San Marino Outlet Experience in Falciano.

The Marchio di Origine e Tipicità (Mark of Origin and Typicity), introduced in 1995, identifies products handcrafted on Sammarinese soil. The SMAC Card pairs with purchases offering discounts at partner shops.

Restaurants Food and wine
Table set with typical Sammarinese dishes: passatelli, piadina and Three Towers Cake
Table · Tradition
Dishes of Sammarinese cuisine
§ VII — Calendar

The year in events

All events
Calendar of the main events of San Marino
When Event Where
5 FebruaryFeast of Saint AgathaBorgo Maggiore · Basilica of Saint Marinus
SummerSunrise on the MountOrti dell'Arciprete
Late JulyMedieval DaysOld town · Crossbowmen's Quarry
Mid AugustMi Gusto San MarinoVia Eugippo · Crossbowmen's Quarry
SeptemberGrand Prix of San MarinoMisano World Circuit
December and JanuaryChristmas of WondersOld town · Crossbowmen's Quarry
FAQ · Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the Republic of San Marino?
A sovereign state surrounded by Italian territory, between Emilia-Romagna and Marche. It covers 61.19 km² and counted 34,059 residents on 31 March 2025. It is regarded as the oldest surviving Republic in the world: tradition places its foundation on 3 September AD 301.
How many days do I need to visit San Marino?
One day is enough to see the historic centre, the Three Towers and one museum. Two or three days extend the visit to the lower Castelli, around Borgo Maggiore and the Romagna coast. A weekend covers comfortably the UNESCO core.
Do I need a passport to enter San Marino?
No. The border with Italy has no checkpoints and can be crossed freely. A valid identity document is enough for occasional checks and for hotel registration.
Is the euro used in San Marino?
Yes. The Republic adopts the euro under a monetary convention with the European Union and mints its own commemorative and circulation coins.
When is the best time to visit San Marino?
Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures, fewer crowds and lower prices. Summer is the season of festivals, from the Medieval Days to Mi Gusto. In winter the historic centre comes alive with the Christmas of Wonders.
What is the fastest way up to the historic centre?
The cableway connecting Borgo Maggiore to the City of San Marino. Departures run every 15 minutes, starting at 07:45 all year round. Alternative options: walking from public car parks or the panoramic lifts of the multi-storey P9 car park.