San Marino is a small sovereign state that is surrounded by the country of Italy. This state can be found on the Italian Peninsula along the Northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains.
Saint Marinus arrived in the current area of San Marino after he escaped from Monte Titano in 301. This is when he founded San Marino and constructed a small church.
Napoleon threatened to take San Marino’s independence when he arrived in 1797, but Antonio Onofri intervened.
San Marino was helpful during the Italian unification in the nineteenth century and many refugees arrived in the area.
During World War I and World War II, San Marino remained neutral, despite the pressure it received from other countries.
Since San Marino is located near a mountain range, none of the land is flat. The weather is warm during the summer months and cool during the winter.
Attractions in San Marino
Fortresses – Guaita, Cesta, and Montale
These three fortresses are connected by a paved path and the views from the top are spectacular.
Guaita was the first fortress to be built and it dates back to 1253.
The Cesta fortress is the highest of the three and inside people can visit a museum that contains ancient arms.
Piazza della Liberta
Many tourists can be found within the Piazza della Liberta, because this is where the changing of the guard ceremony is held.
The Guardie de Rocca are dressed in a dark green double-breasted jacket, red trousers with a green stripe, a hat with a red pompom, and white gaiters.
Museo di Stato
The National Museum can be found in the historic Palazzo Pergami Belluzzi.
There are numerous archaeological collections that include Neolithic artifacts, Etruscan artifacts, Roman artifacts, and Egyptian antiques.
Most people want to see the seventeenth century paintings and the San Marino antique coins when they visit.
Basilica di San Marino
This basilica was constructed during the early nineteenth century where a fourth century Romanesque church had been located and abandoned.
There are seven alters inside that contain statuaries and paintings, plus the high alter has a statue of St. Marinus, which was created by Tadolini.
Wax Museum
There are one hundred wax figures inside this museum and they all represent historical people.
One exhibit shows Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler at a meeting, while another shows Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the audience before Pope John XXIII.
There are numerous exhibits of people with their tools, including Galileo with his telescope and Da Vinci holding his paintbrush.
Much of the museum is dedicated to events that have happened all over the world, but people will also catch a glimpse of San Marino history as well.
Museum of Curiosities
Strange objects and peculiar inventions fill the exhibits within the Museum of Curiosities.
Visitors will see the longest fingernails in the world, a German mousetrap from the 1700s, and a nose watch that creates different scented smoke every hour.
Unusual people are featured in the museum as well, including the world’s tallest man and the shortest woman in the world.
Maranello Rosso Ferrari Museum
Automobiles are loved by people all over the world, especially Ferraris, sports cars, and Formula 1 cars.
Inside the museum, people will learn about the history of the cars and see the ones that were owned by Enzo Ferrari and Carlo Abarth.
There are twenty-five Ferraris at the museum, but the most popular one is the 250 GTO Red, which won the World Championship three times.
Cuisine
Many people travel to this area of the world for the delicious Italian food and San Marino does not disappoint.
While all Italian food is wonderful, San Marino does specialize in a few select dishes that no one can leave the state without trying.
- Passatelli – pasta that is made with bread crumbs, eggs, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese and then served in chicken broth
- Coniglio con finocchio – roasted rabbit served with fennel
- Costolette de vitello – veal cutlets served Bolognese style
- Piada – special thin bread
- Pasta e ceci – chickpea and noodle soup made with garlic and rosemary
- Cacciatello – dessert that is like crème caramel
Best Places to Eat in San Marino
Il Matterello
People will need to go outside of the historical center of San Marino to enjoy the delicious food at Il Matterello, but the food is worth the distance of travel.
Most people will order the sandwiches for lunch and the most popular one is the porchetta.
La Terrazza
The views from La Terrazza are magnificent and they can turn a meal into an extraordinary experience.
Guests can dine in the glow of candlelight as they sit outside of the medieval tower.
The bread and pasta is made on site as are the desserts, which have all been passed down for generations.
The wine list is quite large and there is a perfect drink to complement every meal.
Smaller
Smaller was opened in July of 2005 and serves both lunch and dinner. The chefs carefully select their produce every day as well as the meat and the seafood that they use.
Most of the menu us filled with meat and pasta dishes, however, people will be able to find a few vegetarian dishes too.
Throughout the week, the restaurant offers Theme Nights, which has become popular with both the locals and the tourists.
The favorite desserts include panna cotta and waffle crisp mascarpone.
Ristorante Righi
Ristorante Righi can be found at the Piazza della Liberta inside a palace where three generations worked together for many years.
Chef Sartini currently creates the dishes that are served every day inside the warm and welcoming dining area.
More than four hundred and fifty wines are available down in the wine cellar and each one will taste fantastic with any of the meals that are served.
The desserts are just as delectable as the dinners and no one will want to leave without ordering one and at least having a taste.
Ristoranti Pizzeria Cacciatori
This restaurant is known for its pizzas that are cooked in a wood-fired oven and served in a warm and inviting setting.
Italian food is served as well, including lasagna and tortellini, and most people love that everything is reasonably priced.
The best part about this restaurant is that it is close by many of the popular attractions.
San Marino is a wonderful place to spend a vacation and while many people will visit there, others will make this area an excursion during a longer trip that includes other destinations like Italy. However, anyone who visits San Marino will quickly realize that the area is just as beautiful as Italy and a lot less expensive.
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