SM - San Marino

San Marino (known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino) completely surrounded by Italy, is one of the world’s smallest countries, and claims to be the world’s oldest republic. The country bears the name of Saint Marinus, a Christian stonemason who is said to have founded the country in 301 AD.

Most cultural attractions are in the capital city, which is also named San Marino. At the top of a mountain, the City of San Marino is full of old buildings, restaurants, and stores catering to tourists, as well as several small museums, and has beautiful views of the nearby towns and surrounding countryside.

Get around:
Costa dell’Arnella, a walking path between Borgo Maggiore and the City of San Marino
Once you’re inside the walled city, it’s small enough to simply walk around. There are only a few streets on which cars are able to drive (and only if they are small cars).

There is a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) cable railway (funivia) connecting the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore. €2.80 for a one-way ticket, €4.50 round-trip.

Outside of the capital, walking is not so easy. San Marino is the only country in the world with more vehicles than people, and it shows—sidewalks are inconsistent at best, especially when going between towns. However, there is a shaded stone path, Costa dell’Arnella, between the City of San Marino and Borgo Maggiore. It starts at the western end of Contrada Omerelli and ends a short distance from the Borgo Maggiore cable car station. Because the City of San Marino is so high up, the path is quite steep.

The bus from Rimini is somewhat useful for travel between towns, and San Marino also has its own bus system.