Have you ever wanted to see the real Italy in Tuscany? If so, then you should visit San Marino. A scenic, mountainous corner of Tuscany, this quaint little town is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in Tuscany. And you'll be able to witness the real flavor of Italy right in the heart of Tuscany with a tour of San Marino.
The best way to describe San Marino would be the "ISAR" system. San Marino is an uphill microstate bounded by south-central Italy. In the west, it's the home of the medieval city of Verona, the University of San Marino and Genoa. In the east, the mountain ridges of Pienza, Favolato, and Vico are lined by modern towns and villages. In the north, the Dolomites snake in between the cities of San Marino and Valentia, and are known as the Little Venice. On the south side, you can't miss the most beautiful part of San Marino: the pine forests.
You may think that a day trip from the main European cities to this UNESCO world heritage city would be extremely boring. Well, you're absolutely wrong! This scenic little corner of Tuscany has something for every tourist, no matter what his interest. If you want to visit marine national parks or seaside beaches, there's no need for a long trip. You'll find plenty to keep your eyes open for with a quick day trip from San Marino.
The first stop on your San Marino Travel Guide to Tuscany is the witches' Path, where you can visit the topmost point in the park: the Cima de San Marino. If you like the idea of climbing up a volcano, you should try this path. Start by following the path beneath the footbridges from the Cima Vista de San Marino to the summit. As you near the summit, the path splits into two parts, allowing you to choose to go left or right. Before reaching the top, turn left and walk down to the Cima de Soldeu. The trail continues to the village of Soldeu and then takes you back to the park's footbridge.
Next on your San Marino Travel Guide to Tuscany, you'll start to explore the surrounding emilia-romagna region. Stop by the charming village of Piadina for some shopping. Piadina is home to Santa Margherita, an authentic Roman restaurant that offers authentic dishes like fish and chips and salsas. For dessert, you can go to one of the nearby pastry shops or even a cafe. Make sure to stop for a picnic at one of the surrounding villages so that you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and scenery as well as some old-fashioned photography.
While you are in the area, you will definitely want to check out the San Marino Archaeological Park. It's one of the best preserved archaeological sites in all of Italy. The archaeological site includes numerous pits, fortresses, a mosaic floor and a Roman forum. Another way to get to the park is taking a day trip on a restored bus. Even a short day trip will give you a peek into the UNESCO world heritage city of Tuscany.
On your way back to the San Marino Travel Guide to Tuscany, stop at the second largest castle in the area, the Duomo. Built in the 13th Century, the Duomo serves as a fine dining and tourist attraction. In addition to eating at the castle, you can take in one of the nearby five star hotels that dot the landscape. For a little less touristy atmosphere, you can take the cable car up to the top of the Three Towers. While you're up there, be sure to take a moment to stop by the witches' path on your way back to the Cable Car station.
Finally, make sure to stop by at the Duomo for a little nap before heading back to your hotel. It's actually a delightful experience to walk through the unspoiled grounds and admire the undulating mountains that line the southern coastline of the area. In fact, you're practically guaranteed to see at least one animal roaming the countryside of the area. For a more sobering excursion, you may also visit the Duomo's hidden underground cave system, filled with dark and dangerous water. All in all, the surroundings of the Tuscany region are as photogenic as they can get, so don't be afraid to leave your camera cell behind and get out of the house.
Up to date information for vaccinations before you travel to San Marino are available from the NHS Fit for Travel website.
Review the latest FCDO Travel Advice before travelling to or from San Marino
The best time to visit San Marino is from may until september, when you will have a pleasant or warm temperature and limited rainfall. The highest average temperature in San Marino is 29°C in july and the lowest is 9°C in january.
You don't need a visa to visit San Marino.
See which forms you may need for entry into San Marino.
The official currency of San Marino is the Euro (EUR). If you're looking to transfer or spend money in San Marino you can grab amazing Euro deals via Wise.com (GBP to EUR).
There are many different kinds of animals that call San Marino home. This includes a wide variety of mammals, such as foxes, otters, bats, hedgehogs, badgers, rabbits, and weasels. The climate is mild and temperate. In summer, the maximum temperatures are usually in the 70s.
Italian food? Torta Tre Monti: It is considered to be the national dish of San Marino. It is layers of waffled wafers that has Nutella or traditionally a hazelnut cream between each one and chocolate icing on the sides.
You can typically expect to pay around £3.00p for an equivalent pint of lager or beer.
The official language is Italian. A widely spoken dialect has been defined as Celto-Gallic, akin to the Piedmont and Lombardy dialects as well as to that of Romagna. You can learn some basic Italian before you travel to San Marino and really impress the locals!
The currency in San Marino is the Euro (97% of the people in the San Marino City average tipping percentage in restaurants is between 7% to 13%. The actual tipping percentage is determind according to the level of service given in the restaurant and the tipping percentage can go above 7% if service was suberb or go under 13% if the service was bad).).
The GMT time difference is 1 hours