Welcome to the City of San Marino, capital of the Republic of San Marino, known to locals simply as Città. It clings to the western slopes of Monte Titano, the country's highest point, and with just over 4,000 inhabitants it is one of the least populated national capitals in the world. Tradition says the city was founded in the year 301 by Saint Marinus and a group of Christian refugees fleeing Roman persecution. Its heart was guarded by three towers, the first of which had such a reputation for being impenetrable that it largely discouraged attacks. Let us climb up among the towers and stone streets and begin our tour.
Three Towers of San Marino
Photo: Commonists · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLook up at the ridge of Monte Titano and you will see the Three Towers of San Marino, one on each of the mountain's three peaks. They are so central to the nation's identity that they appear on both the national flag and the coat of arms. The Guaita is the oldest, from the 11th century. The Cesta stands on the highest summit, built in the 13th century on the remains of an older Roman fort. The smallest summit carries the Montale, from the 14th century, which is closed to the public. It is thought to have been built for protection against the growing power of the Malatesta family, and it too was once used as a prison.
Guaita
Photo: Terragio67 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBefore you stands the Guaita, also known as La Rocca, the oldest and most imposing of the three towers on Monte Titano. Its name in the local dialect means to stand guard. Built in the 11th century, it was reinforced many times and rebuilt in the late 1400s, and a sloping roof was added in the 16th century. Double walls protect it, and in times of siege the fortress sheltered the people. Here is a surprising detail: rooms in the inner wall served as a prison for those with sentences under six months, right up until October 1970. Inside you will also find a chapel of Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen.
Palazzo Pubblico
Photo: Fiat 500e · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHere is the Palazzo Pubblico, the Public Palace and city hall of San Marino. This is where official state ceremonies take place, and it is the seat of the Republic's main institutions, including the Captains Regent and the Grand and General Council. It stands on the site of an older building, the Domus Magna Comunis. The present palace was designed by the Roman architect Francesco Azzurri, and construction began in 1884 and ended in 1894. Notice the battlements resting on a row of corbels along the top of the building, a pattern repeated on the clock tower above.
Basilica di San Marino
Photo: Newbio623 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsStep up to the Basilica of Saint Marinus, the main church of the City of San Marino. It is dedicated to Saint Marinus, the founder and patron of the Republic, and his relics are enshrined inside. The present church was built in 1836, replacing an earlier one that dated back to the 7th century. Its Neoclassical facade is fronted by a porch of eight Corinthian columns. The basilica also serves as a co-cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro, and it stands right beside the Church of Saint Peter.
Monte Titano
Photo: Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAll around you rises Monte Titano, a mountain of the Apennines and the highest point in San Marino, standing 739 metres above sea level. Together with the historic centre, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Its isolated position gave San Marino the seclusion it needed to survive as a republic over many centuries. Italians often call the peak Monte Brugola, because from the Po Plain its shape is said to resemble a hex key. And look closely at any image of Saint Marinus: he is always shown holding Mount Titano in his hands.
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