At the get-go, it's important to say this was NOT a scheduled stop on the Grand Tour of Italy, so don't get your hopes up if you're here because you wonder what you will see if you go on this tour. This was a last-minute decision by our bus driver and guide after a long day of driving from Bari to Rimini, 563 km. Since we were so close to San Marino and had made good time, they spontaneously decided to do it!
And are we ever so glad they did!
Talk about scale. That wee dot is the size of the Republic of San Marino!
It's a country within Italy that's only 24 sq. miles with a population of ca. 33.5K.
And at only 20 km west of Rimini, it was a no-brainer.
So, yes, San Marino is a wee country within the country of Italy...
kinda like a wheel in the middle of a wheel!
In fact, "San Marino is one of the only three countries in the world to be completely surrounded
by a single other country (the others being Vatican City, also surrounded by Italy, and Lesotho.)
It is the third smallest country in Europe, with only Vatican City and Monaco being smaller.
It is also the fifth smallest country in the world." (Wiki)
The City of San Marino is the capital, sitting on the country's highest point, Monte Titano,
with the Guaita Fortress at the top. It's population is ca. 4K.
[Max Ryazanov photo]
That was our destination that late Sunday afternoon, where we had free time from 4-5:15p.m.
This was my very first shot once we got inside the walls of the capital city.
All I wanted was to look out across the countryside from which we had just slowly climbed to the top.
See what I mean?
I felt like a Peeping Tom. It was breath-taking.
We actually arrived as a festival of sorts was in its last act that Sunday afternoon.
The temptation was to linger and watch...but we only had an hour!
While others from the tour found places to celebrate Happy Hour (in a new place!),
Astrid and I walked the winding streets up and up and up...
and I mean up...
and still up...
till we reached the Guaita Fortress at the top, built in the 11th century.
There was an entrance fee to get into even the courtyard, but not to worry
because we immediately turned around to return back to where we had started in time.
Our goal was simply to get to the top, the highest point in the country, at 2,457 ft above sea level.
Back where we started, the lift on the right took us down to our awaiting bus...
but not before we checked out the Church of St. Quirino from 1549 at the end of the street...
and then grabbed an Italian gelato to share. That was OUR Happy Hour.
Want some trivia?
San Marino is one of the wealthiest and most economically stable countries in the world,
"with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, no national debt and a budget surplus,
and has the highest rate of car ownership, being the only country with more vehicles than people."
(Wiki)
It shouldn't surprise you that the City of San Marino and Mount Titano
became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
