San Marino

San Marino (the Republic of San Marino) is a small landlocked country and independent state within Italy. San Marino shares borders with the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna to the north and east and Le Marche to the south and west.  

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San Marino is the third smallest state in Europe, after Monaco and Vatican City, encompassing an area of approximately 23 square miles.  It is believed to be the world’s oldest and smallest republic, with the world’s oldest surviving constitution.  The country has an interesting history, which is well worth exploring

The official language is Italian and even though not a member of the European Union it uses the euro as currency. Being a microstate, San Marino is permitted to mint euro coins with its own design. San Marino also produces its own postage stamps and the coins and stamps are popular collector items.

The native people of San Marino are known as Sammarinese and the coujntry shares an open border with Italy and passports are not required to travel between the countries.  As a souvenir, and for a small fee of a few euros, the authorities will stamp your passport.

San Marino lies on the eastern slope of Mount Titano, which is part of the Apennine mountain range.  The Apennine Mountains are popular for hiking, camping and outdoor activities.  Overlooking the Old Town are the three famous towering fortresses, which are connected by a trail. The imposing fortress towers are an unforgettable sight in a storybook setting, with stunning views across the surrounding countryside to the Adriatic coast. 

Tourism is a major part of San Marino’s economy.  Traditional pageants and events, such as crossbow demonstrations, are regular features.  Although San Marino has no major lakes or rivers it is only about 10 km from the popular Italian Adriatic beach resort of Rimini and a popular destination for day trips.

The capital of San Marino is the city of San Marino, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.  San Marino has a medieval Old Town with narrow pedestrian streets. The Historic Centre of San Marino features attractions such as the Public Palace where the Changing of the Guard is popular with tourists, as well as the State Museum at the Piazza del Titano, St. Francis Art Gallery, and several museums.

San Marino hosts motorcycle and motor sports events at the Imola circuit as well as the nearby Misano World Circuit.  Following a spate of tragic accidents the Formula One Grand Prix has not been held at Imola since 1996 (the Italian F1 Grand Prix is a separate event from the former San Marino Grand Prix). The Imola area of San Marino is home to the car manufacturers Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.

San Marino does not have an airport and the closest is at Rimini (Federico Fellini International) although there are adequate bus and train services.  Parking is available outside San Marino city walls.  A cable car also provides easy access to the city from the neighbouring area of Borgo Maggiore. 

We recommend a visit to the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for updated travel advice and information as part of their ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign.  Their advice for San Marino includes the following topics:

-Passport/visa/entry requirements
-Driving in San Marino
-Emergency contact numbers/consulate
-Safety and security
-Local laws and customs
-Access to emergency funds

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Useful travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for travel to San Marino. Click Here

Useful website:  http://www.visitsanmarino.com/

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure the information in this Travel Guide is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy, or the content of external links.

Inclusion in this Travel Guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in any country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have issued an advisory against travel.

You are strongly advised to visit the FCO website for updated travel information and general travel advice before you travel.