San Marino is one of the most interesting nations on the planet, tucked right in the middle of Italy. It’s one of the world’s smallest independent states, only surpassed by Monaco and Vatican City. Founded in 301 AD, it is also the world’s oldest surviving republic, maintaining its independence for over 1,700 years. While you’ll find spectacular hill towns in Italy, it’s difficult to beat the views from the Fortress of Gualita, which overlooks the verdant valley beyond.
If you love nature, San Marino is an excellent place to visit. You’ll find trails, paths, and treks for people of every fitness level and need, and you’ll have the chance to spot plenty of animals in the air and in the fields. Plus, people who live in this republic enjoy an incredible quality of life, great social programs, and a diverse population. Learn about this impressive republic, and consider putting it on your must-visit vacation list in the future.
1. It’s a Very Small Country
San Marino stretches a mere eight miles and gets its hilly terrain from proximity to Mount Titano, a limestone mountain that’s a full 2,424 feet tall. Thanks to the Ausa, San Marino, and Marano streams and the Romagna plain to the north, you’ll also find riverbanks in the country.
If you like different landscapes and want to pack in plenty of outdoor experiences in a short amount of time, San Marino is certainly a place to consider, because you can travel around it quickly and go from the mountain peaks to the lush plains in a matter of a few hours. Plus, the city of San Marino itself is a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’re craving a bit more history, you can also check out Rome, Italy, which is just a four-hour drive from the heart of San Marino.
2. You’ll Find Plenty of Animal and Plant Life
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Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterSan Marino is also an intensely bio-diverse republic with an abundance of different animal and plant species, and geographical formations. This wonderfully diverse ecosystem is likely due to the fact that there are so many different landscapes in the small country. Wander through San Marino, and you’ll find groves of olive trees, old-growth forests, and vibrant wildflowers.
You’ll also find different types of animals, like hares, foxes, birds, and hedgehogs throughout the country. This country is also home to wild boars, which can be territorial animals and may be aggressive if they feel threatened. Keep your eyes peeled if you’re walking through the countryside. Birding is especially popular here, and many species like barn owls, Eurasian sparrowhawks, and great crested grebes can be spotted.
3. It’s Got an Excellent Climate
Thanks to its different landscapes, San Marino has a lovely overall climate and several smaller microclimates. The summer temperatures are in the balmy 70s, and the winter temperatures are in the teens. San Marino tends to be pretty humid, with rainfall throughout the year, so if you visit this small republic, bring your rain gear and umbrella.
Technically, San Marino has a subtropical climate. While summer’s temperature isn’t sky-high, the humidity can contribute to the overall heat index, meaning that cooler spring is an excellent time to visit the country. You can also visit in the fall when the temperature starts to dip a bit, and the hiking is fantastic.
4. You’ll Discover Many Thriving Industries
While neighboring Rome is a cautionary tale of the dangers of over-tourism, San Marino has been spared this fate so far. Instead, it’s actively seeking tourists, and the tourism sector makes up an important part of the economy. One of the things that makes this republic so attractive is its small size, so you can see all or most of the country in a handful of days.
Additional sectors include agriculture; particularly grapes and wheat, and you’ll find plenty of farmland in San Marino’s verdant valleys. It’s also becoming a top place for electronics production, jewelry, cosmetics, and furniture. San Marino has a thriving fashion industry and is an excellent spot to pick up those hard-to-find souvenirs.
5. It Has an Ancient Population
You’ll find ancient people on the streets of San Marino city and throughout the countryside. These citizens are descendants of the followers of St. Marinus and are the original San Marino residents, or Sammarinesi. They populated the tiny republic in the 4th Century and make up the vast majority of the population. One-fifth of the population are Italians, making them the second largest group after the Sammarinesi.
Most of the people in San Marino are Roman Catholic, and the Sammarinesi diaspora is spread throughout the world. Although San Marino is not in the European Union, it is in the middle of Italy, and therefore, visitors need to go through the Schengen Zone to get there. Depending on where you’re traveling from, you may need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone and Italy.
6. Residents Enjoy Great Social Programs
Those who live in San Marino enjoy a high quality of life and excellent social programs. The state regularly creates jobs to combat unemployment, and everyone who lives there enjoys excellent healthcare that covers regular doctor visits, emergency care, and treatment for their twilight years. San Marino residents also enjoy free education, and you can apply for assistance to buy a home.
While residents of San Marino enjoy excellent healthcare and a good safety net, you’ll still want to make sure that you’re insured if you visit. Good travel insurance can save you plenty of headaches while on the road.
7. The Capital City is Phenomenal
With exceptional shopping, awe-inspiring views, great hiking, and proximity to Rimini, a lovely beach town on the Adriatic Sea (located outside of San Marino in Italy), San Marino has plenty to offer, including a cosmopolitan capital city on the edge of Mount Titano. Visitors will feel like they’ve stepped back in time, with serpentine, charming cobbled roads, and the Guaita Tower, a stately landmark where you can also get tremendous views.
There are a lot of great things to do in the capital city, but one of the best might be to get a coffee and wander through the streets. You can also ride the cable car, trek up to the Guaita Tower, soak in the views of the valley, or do some world-class shopping. Since San Marino is so small, you can always make the capital your home base for exploring the rest of the country.
8. It’s Run by a Parliamentary System
San Marino is ruled by the Great and General Council, or Parliament, which dates back to the 1600s and is comprised of 60 people. These Parliament members are up for election every five years, giving the citizens of San Marino the opportunity to shake things if they need to. The function of the Great and General Council is to serve the people of San Marino and create and implement laws.
Each member of the Parliament needs to be at least 25 years or older, a citizen, free of any conflicts of interest, and not represented in any other legal or law enforcement body, like the police department.
9. You Can Get to Italy Easily
San Marino sits on the Northeastern side of Italy near the Adriatic Sea and the seaside town of Rimini. It’s a landlocked region, but you can get easy transportation to Rimini, which is less than half an hour away from the republic. There are also several roads that run through San Marino and link up with Italy on all different sides.
San Marino does not have its own airport. Instead, you’ll need to fly into the Federico Fellini International Airport, which is in Rimini. Since you can’t fly directly into San Marino, you’ll need to have a valid visa to visit Italy. While you won’t get an official passport stamp for San Marino, you can get a souvenir stamp in your passport that will remind you of your time in the country.
San Marino is easily one of the most interesting and unique places on the planet. This tiny republic is full of fantastic nature, a gorgeous capital city, and excellent wildlife. If you want to experience something a bit off the beaten path, it’s time to consider visiting this charming country within a country.
