Funny random fact: Modern Italian culture goes right back Roman times, but modern Italy goes back to…1871. That’s right: the country we call Italy is younger than the United States, and is the result of a unification of regions that until then had been independent countries. But the unification wasn’t exactly complete
San Marino really is the kind of place you could drive by and miss. I did a few times, and considering it’s all of 24 miles in size, you’ll forgive me. But what it lacks in size, it makes up in history; the country was founded all the way back in 301 AD and claims to be the oldest republic in the world. Resting on the slopes of Mount Titano, San Marino turned down the prospect of uniting with the rest of Italy, and so is on all sides surrounded by Italy. It is one of the very few nations to be inside another. It’s also one of the best places you’ve never heard of.
Which is ironic, because San Marino is now one of the most in-places to go in Europe. With views of the Adriatic shimmering in the distance, this mountaintop country has it’s own culture and dialect, so don’t dare call the people “Italian.” They are “Sammarinese,” thank you very much, and they have their own culture and identity. Central to that identity are three towers, Guaita, Cesta and the Montale. One part defense, one part offence, the towers now house museums dedicated to weaponry (small countries tend to get mowed down by big ones), jewelry belonging to the Ostrogothic court, and for all you BDSM fanatics, medieval torture. Boy, they got creative back then…
Despite its tiny size, San Marino is not a city that is a country. It has several villages dotting the Titano landscape, and once out of the City of San Marino, the perhaps-a-tad-touristy capital, I found Borgo Maggiore and what amounted to a time warp. San Marino is hardly an isolated backwater, but unlike other countries that rush towards modernity, this particularly country keeps it old school. Streets in Borgo Maggiore are older than the USA and resemble paper cuts into the rock, so narrow are they. The market is perfect spot to pick up some of the local eats, and there wasn’t another tourist in sight.
Most people regard San Marino as a day trip from the nearby Rimini Riviera; I personally think the country itself is worth a stay. The Hotel Joli is perfect HQ, and Sammarinese public transportation puts all 24 miles of the country at your fingertips.
For more info, go to visitsanmarino.com. Contact Steele Luxury Travel to plan your journey to Italy- Visit us at www.SteeleTravel.com