San MarinoCapital
San Marino · Country profile
San Marino is the stone, clifftop capital of the oldest republic of the world, the medieval summit town of the same mountain that gives its name and its fortress to the tiny sovereign state of the San Marino, perched on the terraces and the crags of the great Titano between the plain of the Emilia-Romagna and the sea. The capital of the republic of the seventeen centuries of the liberty, the stone town of the towers, the palaces, the squares and the viewpoints that crowd its mountain top, it is a living city-state of the government, the museums, the shops of the stamps and the crafts, and the panoramas of the whole of the Italian landscape beneath its walls. The towers of the Guaita and the Cesta, the palaces of the government, the museums and the loops of the walls that follow the edges of the cliffs anchor the essential visits, while the whole little country of the republic spreads within a short walk or a cable ride below the summit. Ancient, proud and totally unique, San Marino is the crown of the oldest surviving republic of Europe.
About San Marino
San Marino is the capital of San Marino. The city's documented population is around 4,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and Italian is spoken; the dialling code is +378.
The Towers of the Guaita and the Walls of the Crags
San Marino is a compact, vertiginous capital where the essential circuit follows the crest of the mountain, from the first of the towers to the second through the cliffside pathways and the walls of the old stone town, with the government palace, the museums and the viewpoints stringing the classic day. The two great towers with their stone battlements and their flags, the palace of the government with its gothic hall and the museum of the ancient arms anchor the essential visits, while the craft and the stamp shops of the tourists, the cliffside cafes and the extraordinary panoramas of the surrounding country fill the rest of the walk. The lower city of the republic, with its stations and its small villages, the forests of the slopes and the cable routes of the mountain give the remaining excursions of the tiny state.
The Palace of the Government and the Square of the Liberty
The climate of the summit is the pleasant Apennine with the distinct seasons, the mild, green summers, the cold winters with their occasional snow on the heights, and the brilliant autumn and the flowering spring of the slopes, each season changing the views of the surrounding plain. The euro is the currency, with the Italian the language of the little country and some English among the shop and the museum staff of the tourist town. The towers, the palaces and the viewpoints make the core circuit, and the whole country of the republic lies within a short walk or a ride of the summit. Layered clothing for the seasons, comfortable walking shoes and a camera for the extraordinary views complete the simple preparation for the stone capital.
The Views of the Plain and the Crafts of the Summit
The three towers of the mountain, the stone fortresses of the Guaita, the Cesta and the smaller Montale that crown the triple peaks of the summit and appear on the coins of the republic, are the eternal images of San Marino, and the way between the two great towers, along the walls and the crags of the ridge with the museum of the ancient arms and the astonishing drop of the views, is the essential walk of the capital. The palace of the government of the republic, the gothic palace of the terraces and the crenellations that faces the liberty square of the great meetings, stages the ceremonies and the guards of the state, while the tourist lanes of the town between the palace and the towers carry the stamps, the coins, the ceramics and the crafts of the republic. The state museum in its historic palazzo, with its collection of the archaeology of the territory, and the gondola of the mountain that climbs from the lower city to the ancient walls, complete the essential, windswept, utterly unique circuit of the capital of the oldest republic of Europe.
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- Country
- San Marino
- Population
- 4,000
- Capital
- San Marino
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Italian
- Calling code
- +378
- Country code
- SM
Entry requirements for San Marino
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting San Marino for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is San Marino the capital of San Marino?
Yes — San Marino is the capital of San Marino.
What currency do I need in San Marino?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in San Marino include Italian.
What is the dialling code for San Marino?
The international dialling code for San Marino is +378.
Do I need a visa to visit San Marino?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of San Marino? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.