Sightseeing in
San Marino

The first glance

Those arriving by car take the San Marino expressway and climb the flank of the Titano along hairpin bends that cross the Castelli of Serravalle, Borgo Maggiore and finally the capital. The sequence of twelve numbered car parks facilitates access to the historic centre, which is fully pedestrian.

The alternative is the cableway run by the State Public Services Authority: it links the station of Borgo Maggiore to Contrada del Pianello in just over two minutes, with a vertical drop of 166 metres and a speed of six metres per second. On arrival the belvedere overlooks the valley, the Romagna coast and, on clear days, the sea towards Istria.

City of San Marino

The capital covers the summit of the Titano between 650 and 756 metres of altitude. At the centre is Piazza della Libertà, overlooking the Public Palace, seat of the Great and General Council and the Regency. A short distance away the Basilica of Saint Marinus preserves the relics of Marinus, founder of the community in the fourth century.

Around it open paved alleys, stairways cutting the slope and side squares. The Crossbowmen's Quarry, an ancient stone quarry converted to an amphitheatre, hosts the annual re-enactment of the Palio of the Great Crossbows. Further off, the St. Francis Church and the St. Quirinus Church, and the ancient Monastery of St. Clare, today used as a government seat.

1. Piazza della Libertà

   The civic heart of the Republic, with the Statue of Liberty donated in 1876 by Countess Heyroth-Wagener. Here takes place the changing of the Fortress Guard.

2. Contrada del Pianello

   Panoramic balcony at the cableway arrival, with the Monument to Bartolomeo Borghesi and coin-operated binoculars to observe the coast.

3. Contrada Omerelli

   The ancient street of notaries and artisans, today the commercial spine between Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza della Libertà.

4. St. Francis Gate

   Monumental access to the centre from the south side, built in 1361 and enlarged in subsequent centuries.

The ridge of the Towers

The sequence of Guaita, Cesta and Montale runs along the three peaks of Mount Titano in just over a kilometre, partly along the so-called Witches' Pass. The Guaita dates from the eleventh century, is the oldest and most visited; the Cesta, at the highest point of the mountain at 756 metres, hosts the Museum of Ancient Weapons; the Montale, smaller and closed to the public, closes the ridge to the south.

The museum network

The Cultural Institutes manage ten public museum venues. The State Museum in Piazzetta del Titano displays the archaeological collection and the art gallery. The San Marino National Gallery brings together the works of the International and National San Marino prizes. The Museum of Ancient Weapons occupies the floors of the Cesta with two thousand pieces between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Alongside the state museums, private venues of strong tourist appeal exist: the Museum of Curiosities with unusual collections, the Wax Museum, the Torture Museum, the Museum of Vampires and the Titanus Museum multimedia. The combined tickets of the State Institutes allow joint visits, while tickets to private venues must be purchased separately.

Suggested routes

For those with only one day, the one day in San Marino itinerary concentrates the Three Towers, Public Palace, Basilica of Saint Marinus and panoramas. With children, the 5 things to do between San Marino and Romagna works well, including the San Marino Adventures park. Those who stay for a weekend can add gastronomic stops and visits to the ridge Castelli.

The complete list of itineraries includes proposals for families, gastronomic tours, autumn routes and a romantic weekend with selected stops.