La Rocca

The austere La Rocca, also known as the Guaita, or First Tower, is the oldest of the three defensive towers that overlook the city. Dating back to the 11th century, it was given a few licks and spits in the 19th and 20th centuries. The structure was chipped straight out of the stone surface without recourse to foundations, and promptly pressed into service as a guard tower and refuge post.

The entrance of the pentagonal structure displays the republic’s baroque coat of arms, purloined from the Palazzo Publico. It also has a picture-book bell tower (as every fortress should) and, built a few years after the bell tower, a tower of penance - which always comes in handy when you’re talking medieval punishment. Up until 1970 the Rocca was still a working prison, but these days tourists are free to roam unhindered around most of the fortress.

Add comment June 17, 2008

When to Go

The best period to visit is April to June. The weather is sunny without being stifling, the countryside bursts with spring flowers, and the flood of summer tourism, largely dictated by school holidays, has yet to crash over the peninsula. Most Italians hit the road in July and August, so those two months - in which prices soar, tempers flare and the country broils - are best avoided.

If you’re looking for something a little extra while you’re there, you might want to coincide your visit with the ‘Medieval Days with Antique Crossbow Competition’, because, really, what’s a castle and three fortresses without a crossbow or two. Failing that you could wait till 3 September when the San Marinese brush off the crossbows again to celebrate National Independence Day.

Add comment May 9, 2008

Dogana

Dogana is a town in the north-eastern corner of San Marino in the Serravalle municipality. It has a population of roughly 7,000. Due to its size, it has asked to split away from Serravalle and become its own castello. This is represented in that Dogana has its own postal code (47891), while the rest of Serravalle is 47899.

Dogana is the main entry point for travellers arriving into San Marino from Italy (by Highway No. 72 from Rimini). Although Dogana means customs house in Italian, there are of course no border formalities anywhere on the border between Italy and San Marino, so the motorists may stop in Dogana only to shop at one of its shopping malls.

Add comment May 1, 2008

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino (Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino) is a country in the Apennine Mountains. It is a landlocked enclave, completely surrounded by Italy. One of the European microstates, San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe.

San Marino claims to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world and that it was founded on 3 September 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. San Marino’s constitution, dating back to 1600, is the world’s oldest written constitution still in effect

Add comment May 1, 2008

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