5 things not to miss in San Marino – San Marino, San Marino

San Marino is one of the smallest countries on earth. There are just over 30.000 inhabitants, which is less than the Dutch village I live in! The capital city is also named San Marino. It lies on top of a big hill, which means you have to walk up and down a lot in the city, but which also means the views are beautiful. Here are 5 things to do in the city of San Marino.

The three towers of San Marino
San Marino has three old towers. The first tower was built in the 10th century and is the oldest one. The second tower is the largest one and lies on a really high point. It is currently a military museum, where you can see old weapons. The third one is the smallest, but it has the most strategic position. This tower also has a prison underneath it. A walk along the towers is beautiful, plus you have amazing views!

The Palazzo Pubblico
On the Pianello square, you can see the Palazzo Pubblico, the city’s town hall and the parliament building of San Marino. It was built in the 19th century and it is guarded by the army of San Marino, the Guard of the Rock. We were also there for the changing of the guards, which was nice to see. This happens every hour during the day at the half hour, so if you’re here for a day, it’s likely you’ll see one.

The Basilica di San Marino
The Basilica di San Marino is a church dedicated to the Saint Marinus. It was also rebuilt in the 19th century, after an older church was demolished, but the bell tower next to it is still from the 17th century. It’s not a big impressive church, but it looks really nice.

Have dinner with a view
As I said before, the city of San Marino lies on a big hill, so you’ll have beautiful views of the surroundings. There are a few restaurants situated at beautiful viewpoints and even though they’re more expensive than the other restaurants in the city, you’ll never forget an experience like this and it makes for beautiful pictures, also when the sun goes down.

Shop in the cute little streets
The streets of San Marino are cute and picturesque. It makes you feel like you’re walking around in a romantic medieval town. It’s lovely to walk around and check out some shops, eat some gelato and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere in this lovely city.