festivites
San Marino has several festivities and holidays throughout the year, including:
1. Feast of Saint Agatha: Celebrated on February 5th, this feast honors Saint Agatha, the patron saint of San Marino. The day is marked by processions, masses, and a public holiday.
2. Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic: On September 3rd, San Marino celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the republic in 301 AD. The day is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and cultural events throughout the country.
3. Feast of Saint Marinus: Celebrated on September 13th, this feast honors Saint Marinus, the founder of the republic. The day is marked by processions, religious services, and cultural events.
4. Halloween: Although not an official holiday, Halloween is widely celebrated in San Marino with costume parties and trick-or-treating on October 31st.
5. Christmas: Christmas is celebrated on December 25th with religious services, festive decorations, and traditional foods such as torrone (nougat) and panettone (sweet bread).
6. New Year's Eve: New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties, fireworks, and traditional foods such as cotechino con lenticchie (pork sausage with lentils) on December 31st.
These holidays are celebrated throughout San Marino, with various cultural traditions and customs depending on the occasion.
seasons
San Marino generally experiences two tourist seasons:
1. Peak season - From June to August, when the weather is warm and sunny. During this time, the streets are bustling with tourists, and prices for accommodation and activities tend to be higher than other times of the year.
2. Off-season - From November to February, when the weather is cooler and there are fewer tourists. This period is ideal for travelers who prefer a quieter experience and lower prices on accommodations and activities.
It's worth noting that San Marino is a small country, so it's possible to visit year-round. However, some attractions may have limited hours or closures during the low season.
Regardless of when you visit, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes, as many of the streets in San Marino are steep and hilly. Additionally, it's always a good idea to bring layers, as temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day.
visa
Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland do not require a visa to visit San Marino for stays up to 90 days.
Non-EU citizens may need a Schengen Visa to enter San Marino, which costs approximately €80-€100.
Please note that San Marino does not have its own embassy or consulate in most countries, so visa applications must be submitted to the Italian embassy or consulate. Additionally, due to its small size, San Marino only has one border crossing with Italy, so visitors typically enter from and exit to Italy.
souvenirs
1. Stamps and Coins: San Marino is famous for its stamps and coins collection, you can buy them from the Philatelic and Numismatic Museum. Prices vary depending on the rarity and age of the items.
2. Ceramic Products: The Republic of San Marino is known for its ceramics, which feature traditional Sammarinese designs. You can find them in shops in the historic centre of San Marino. Prices range from €10 to €50.
3. Handicrafts: Handcrafted wooden objects such as chess boards, walking sticks, and other souvenirs are available at the Bottega dei Mestieri. Prices start from €15.
4. Food and Wine: Traditional Sammarinese food products like honey, olive oil, cheese, and wine can be purchased in various shops. Prices range from €5 to €30.
5. Pashmina Shawls: Pashmina shawls made of high-quality wool are a popular souvenir item. They can be found in textile shops located in San Marino's historic center, with prices starting from €40.
Note that prices are subject to change and may vary depending on the store and the quality of the product. It is always recommended to compare prices and quality before making a purchase.
If you have 1 week
Hello there! It's great to hear that you're located in San Marino. Here is a one week itinerary suggestion for you:
Day 1: Explore the Historic Centre of San Marino
Start your trip by exploring the historic centre of San Marino, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the three towers - Guaita, Cesta, and Montale - that are perched on the peaks of Monte Titano. Each tower offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, as well as insights into San Marino's unique history.
Day 2: Visit the Museum of Emigration
The Museum of Emigration tells the story of the many people who left San Marino in search of a better life elsewhere. It provides a fascinating insight into the country's social and economic history, as well as its traditions and customs.
Day 3: Sample Local Cuisine
San Marino boasts a rich tradition of gastronomy, with dishes that are heavily influenced by Italian cuisine. Take some time to sample local delicacies such as piadina, a flatbread filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables; passatelli in broth, a type of pasta made with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese; and zuppa di ciliegie, a cherry soup served with cookies or ice cream.
Day 4: Discover the Countryside
Take a day to explore the beautiful countryside around San Marino. Visit nearby towns such as Verucchio or Santarcangelo di Romagna, where you can stroll through winding streets, discover beautiful medieval architecture, and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding hillsides.
Day 5: Relax at the Beach
San Marino is located just a short drive from the Adriatic Sea, so take a break from sightseeing and spend a day relaxing on the beach. The nearby town of Rimini boasts miles of sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and plenty of beachside bars and restaurants where you can sample delicious seafood dishes.
Day 6: Visit a Vineyard
San Marino has a long tradition of wine-making, with several vineyards producing high-quality wines. Take a tour of one of the local vineyards, learn about the winemaking process, and sample some of the country's finest wines.
Day 7: Enjoy an Adventure Sport
San Marino offers plenty of opportunities for adventure sports such as hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Spend your final day exploring the country's beautiful natural landscapes while getting your adrenaline pumping with an exciting activity.
I hope this itinerary provides a good starting point for your trip to San Marino. Have fun exploring!
If you have 2 weeks
Ah, San Marino! Such a beautiful and unique country. For your two-week itinerary, I suggest the following:
Week 1:
Day 1-2: You should start by exploring the historic center of San Marino, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a stroll around the narrow streets and alleys, admire the medieval architecture and enjoy the stunning views over the surrounding hills and countryside.
Day 3-4: Visit the famous Three Towers of San Marino, the most iconic landmarks of the country. Climb to the top of Guaita Tower for panoramic views, explore the museum at Cesta Tower, and discover the prison and armory at Montale Tower.
Day 5-6: Head to the beach town of Rimini, located just south of San Marino. Relax on the sandy beaches, swim in the Adriatic Sea, and soak up the sun. Explore the old town of Rimini as well, with its ancient Roman monuments like the Arch of Augustus and the Tiberius Bridge.
Day 7: Take a day trip to Ravenna, home to some of the world's most impressive Byzantine mosaics. Admire the colorful artworks in the Basilica di San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the Arian Baptistery.
Week 2:
Day 8-9: Travel to the beautiful city of Bologna, often called the "food capital" of Italy. Stroll through the charming historic center, visit the impressive Basilica of San Petronio, and indulge in the delicious local cuisine like tagliatelle al ragù and mortadella.
Day 10-11: Continue to Florence, one of the most romantic and picturesque cities in the world. Visit the Uffizi Gallery to see masterpieces by Botticelli and Da Vinci, climb to the top of the Duomo for breathtaking views, and stroll across the Ponte Vecchio.
Day 12-13: Head west to Pisa, famous for its leaning tower. Take a cheesy photo holding up the tower, visit the beautiful Campo dei Miracoli, and explore the charming university town of Pisa.
Day 14: Return to San Marino for a last day of relaxation, shopping, and dining before departing.
Why you should visit these places? Each place offers a unique and unforgettable experience. San Marino is full of history and charm, Rimini offers the perfect beach getaway, Ravenna boasts some of the world's most impressive Byzantine mosaics, Bologna has amazing cuisine, Florence is a city full of art and romance, Pisa is an iconic tourist destination, and returning to San Marino for a final farewell will leave you with lasting memories. These destinations are all easily accessible from San Marino and will offer a diverse and exciting two-week itinerary.
Culture
The Three Towers of San Marino are located on the three peaks of Monte Titano in the capital. They are depicted on both the flag of San Marino and its coat of arms. The three towers are: Guaita, the oldest of the three (it was constructed in the 11th century); the 13th-century Cesta, located on the highest of Monte Titano's summits; and the 14th-century Montale, on the smallest of Monte Titano's summits, still privately owned.
The Università degli Studi della Repubblica di San Marino (University of the Republic of San Marino) is the main university, which includes the Scuola Superiore di Studi Storici di San Marino (Graduate School of Historical Studies), a distinguished research and advanced international study centre governed by an international Scientific Committee coordinated by the emeritus historian Luciano Canfora. Other important institutes are the Istituto Musicale Sammarinese (Sammarinese Musical Institute) and the Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino or Accademia Internazionale delle Scienze San Marino (International Academy of Sciences San Marino). The latter is known for adopting Esperanto as the language for teaching and for scientific publications; further, it makes wide use of electronic educational technology (also called e-learning).
Italian author Umberto Eco had attempted to create a "university without physical structures" in San Marino.
In San Marino football is the most popular sport. Basketball and volleyball are also popular. The three sports have their own federations, the San Marino Football Federation, the San Marino Basketball Federation and the San Marino Volleyball Federation.
The San Marino national football team has had little success, being made up of part-timers, such as local plumbers and farmers. Never qualifying for a major tournament, and recording only one win in over 25 years of its history, a 1–0 victory in 2004 against Liechtenstein. They have drawn four more, with their most notable result being a 1993 0–0 draw with Turkey during the European qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In the same qualifying competition Davide Gualtieri scored a goal 8.3 seconds into a match against England; this goal held the record for the fastest in international football until 2016. San Marino has a club in the Italian league system called A.S.D.V. San Marino and a domestic amateur league, the Campionato Sammarinese, whose teams also participate in European club competitions. Together with Italy, San Marino held the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, with teams playing at the Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle. With Italy being the sole automatic qualifiers, the Sammarinese team was not participating in the final tournament.
A Formula One race, the San Marino Grand Prix, was named after the state, although it did not take place there. Instead, it was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the Italian town of Imola, about 100 km northwest of San Marino. Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna suffered fatal accidents a day apart during the 1994 Grand Prix. This international event was removed from the calendar in 2007, although the circuit has since returned to the calendar as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The San Marino and Rimini's Coast motorcycle Grand Prix was reinstated in the schedule in 2007 and takes place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, as does San Marino's round of the World Superbike Championship.
San Marino has a professional baseball team which plays in Italy's top division. It has participated in the European Cup tournament for the continent's top club sides several times, hosting the event in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2007. It won the championship in 2006, 2011 and 2014.
Shooting is also very popular in San Marino, with many shooters having taken part in international competitions and the Olympic Games. San Marino is also the smallest country to have ever won an Olympic medal, having won one silver and a bronze in shooting in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Despite their small population, they got their silver in a team event losing the gold medal match to Spain 41–40.
The cuisine of San Marino is extremely similar to Italian, especially that of the adjoining Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions, but it has a number of its own unique dishes and products. Its best known is probably the Torta Tre Monti ("Cake of the Three Mountains" or "Cake of the Three Towers"), a wafer layered cake covered in chocolate depicting the Three Towers of San Marino. The country also has a small wine industry.
The site San Marino: Historic Centre and Mount Titano became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008. The decision was taken during the 32nd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee composed of 21 Countries convened in Québec, Canada.
The country has a long and rich musical tradition, closely linked to that of Italy, but which is also highly independent in itself. A well-known 17th-century composer is Francesco Maria Marini. The pop singer Little Tony achieved considerable success in the United Kingdom and Italy in the 1950s and 1960s.
San Marino has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times, achieving three final qualifications to date (with then-three, eventually four-time contestant and San Marino native Valentina Monetta with "Maybe" in 2014, Turkish singer Serhat with "Say Na Na Na" who achieved 19th place in the final in 2019 and Italian singer Senhit along with American rapper Flo Rida who qualified for the 2021 final with the song "Adrenalina").
Religion
San Marino is a predominantly Catholic state, though Catholicism is not an established religion. Over 48.4% of the population profess the Catholic faith, and approximately half of those regularly attend church. There is no episcopal see in San Marino, although its name is part of the present diocesan title. Historically, the various parishes in San Marino were divided between two Italian dioceses, mostly in the Diocese of Montefeltro, and partly in the Diocese of Rimini. In 1977, the border between Montefeltro and Rimini was readjusted so that all of San Marino fell within the diocese of Montefeltro. The bishop of Montefeltro-San Marino resides in Pennabilli, in Italy's province of Pesaro e Urbino. The country's high Roman Catholic majority can mainly be traced back to the country's founding, when Saint Marinus set up the first fortress to protect Christians from Roman persecution. The small state's culture has primarily remained Catholic ever since.
There is a provision under the income tax rules that taxpayers have the right to request the allocation of 0.3% of their income tax to the Catholic Church or to charities.
The Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro was until 1977 the historic diocese of Montefeltro. It is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia. The diocese includes all the parishes of San Marino. The earliest mention of Montefeltro, as Mona Feretri, is in the diplomas by which Charlemagne confirmed the donation of Pepin. The first known bishop of Montefeltro was Agatho (826), whose residence was at San Leo. Under Bishop Flaminios Dondi (1724) the see was again transferred to San Leo, but later it returned to Pennabilli. The historic diocese was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Urbino. Since 1988, there is formally an apostolic nunciature to the republic, but it is vested in the nuncio to Italy.
Other faiths include the Waldensian Church and Jehovah's Witnesses. There has been a Jewish presence in San Marino for at least 600 years. The first mention of Jews in San Marino dates to the late 14th century, in official documents recording the business transactions of Jews. There are many documents throughout the 15th to 17th centuries describing Jewish dealings and verifying the presence of a Jewish community in San Marino. Jews were permitted official protection by the government.
During World War II, San Marino provided a haven for more than 100,000 Jews and other Italians (approximately 10 times the Sammarinese population at the time) from Nazi persecution. , few Jews remain. In 2019, a building was inaugurated as the 'Chapel of three religions', the first-ever building of its kind devoted to interfaith dialogue.
Demographics
San Marino has a population of approximately 33,000, with 4,800 foreign residents, most of whom are Italian citizens. Another 12,000 Sammarinese live abroad (5,700 in Italy, 3,000 in the US, 1,900 in France and 1,600 in Argentina).
The first census since 1976 was conducted in 2010. Results were expected by the end of 2011; however, 13% of families did not return their forms.
The primary language spoken is Italian; Romagnol is also widely spoken.
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