City walk San Marino
Round tour through the republic’s capital
San Marino is worth a visit in every season. The eponymous capital is home to numerous sights with the neighbouring Borgo Maggiore being within close reach thanks to the cableway or the stairs. Numerous museums and churches lead into the republic’s eventful history, while the three fortress towers attest to an equally eventful time when it was necessary to have protection against the Malatesta. No matter how much time is at hand: San Marino needs to be seen and visited.
Round tour through San Marino
- Starting point is the San Francesco Gate (Porta San Francesco or Porta del Loco) leading through the city walls into the heart of the city of San Marino.
- Located vis-à-vis is the Church of St Francesco (Chiesa di San Francesco) with museum and pinacotheca. It was presumably finished at the beginning of the 15th century.
- Crossing Via Basilicus and Piazzetta Titano, the next stop is the Contrada Omerelli, where Palazzo Valloni, today’s location of the national library and the national archive with the oratory, a small chapel, is located.
- After a few steps back to Piazzetta Titano and turning into Via Eugippo, Cava di Balestrieri is the next stop. This quarry of crossbowmen is site of the Palio, which takes place every year on national holiday (September 3rd).
- Passing the monument erected in the honour of Bartolomeo Borghesi and the cableway station to Borgo Maggiore across Contrada del Pianello, Piazza della Libertà is the next stop. It is the location of the government palace Palazzo Pubblico with the Statue of Liberty made from white marble.
- Next stop, across Contrada del Collegio, is Piazzala Domus Plebis and the Basilica di San Marino, the highest church of the republic.
- After turning right from the Piazzale, walking through Contrada di Magazzeni and Salita alla Rocca leads to Guaita or Rocca, the first of the three fortress towers. To this day, volleys are fired from the weapons on important holidays.
- Cesta or Fratta, the second fortress, is the next destination after crossing Passo delle Streghe. The tower was erected on the ruins of a former Roman castle and is home to the Museum of Historical Weapons.
- The way back to San Francesco Gate offers the possiblity for a brief stop by the torture museum.
The tour through San Marino can be expanded at will. One possible destination is the third fortress, the Montale. The cableway or the ancient stairs Costa dell’Arnella at Porta della Rupe lead to Borgo Maggiore with the bell tower and Chiesa del Suffragio.
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