Super Seven
1. Guaita Fortress
There are three fortresses along the ridge of Mount Titano, with Guaita Fortress being the most frequently visited. You'll the fortress perched high up on the mountain from as far as 20km away en route to San Marino. The fortress was build in the 11th Century and has even served as a prison during its past. A short hike up for those wishing to visit, but worth the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
2. Monte Titano
The mountain itself is the highest point for miles and stands at 740 meters. This is the best view point in the country! You can see Rimini, but on a clear day, all the way across the Adriatic to the Dalmatian Coast. The name of the highest point is Rocca Cesta, and there's also a museum of ancient arms there, with hundreds of weapons. The three towers also feature on the San Marino flag!
3. Piazza della Liberta
The central square of the country, which is where the neo-Gothic-style Government House is located. This is also the spot of the changing of the guards ceremony throughout the day, which is a great spectacle for all visitors. There's restaurants along the area for a bite to eat or to chill with a coffee and watch the day pass by.
4. Basilica di San Marino
The Neo-classical basilica was built in the 19th century and is the most recognisable building in the country. The basilica was built on the spot formerly occupied by a fourth-century Romanesque church. The interior of the basilica is white, with very detailed ceiling in classic basilica style with two side aisles. There's seven alters in total, with the main alter containing the relics of St. Marinus.
5. Castle Towns
San Marino is surrounded by many small villages across sprawling green hills. The villages have castles and churches of their own so you can see the spires in the distance. If you have time to visit one small town whilst you're exiting San Marino, I would recommend Montegiardino, which dates back to the Roman era.
6. Ferrari Maranello Rosso Collezione Museum
At the foot of Mount Titano before you even head up to San Marino centre, you'll find a vintage car museum dedicated to Ferrari. The museum focusses on the life of Enzo Ferrari, but there's also multiple vehicles, both sports and Formula One, that are owned by famous people. The first Ferrari Spyder that was owned by Marilyn Monroe is amongst the collection. For car geeks, there's also plenty of unpublished photos and mementos from the history of races.
7. Rimini Beach
Depending on your length of stay in San Marino, you may find that you run out of attractions in a short period of time due to the compact size of San Marino. If that's the case, there are a couple of easy half day trips, with one of these being a trip to Rimini, which is just a short 30 minute drive to the coast. Rimini is a beach resort that was hugely popular in the 80's and 90's, but it's still a great spot to check out today.
Accommodation Advice
My chosen accommodation was Hotel Titano, which is a small hotel directly in the centre of the centre of the city. The rooms are relatively basic, but it's clean and the wifi signal is strong. There's also a restaurant on side of the hotel that's used for breakfast, although you'll find no shortage of restaurants within the city. There are definitely higher end hotels available, but I don't think you'll find any more central than this one for around $60 a night.
Food Factor
My view on the best restaurant in San Marino is based on three factors of food quality, view, and value for money. La Terrazza scores highly in all three. The food is locally sourced Italian (no international options), the view is stunning, and the prices are extremely reasonable compared to some of the neighbouring restaurants. It's a popular choice, so reserve a table if you happen to be walking past earlier in the day.
