Routes

San Marino Republic between history and legend

The oldest Republic in the world, 61 km2, a small State that for more than 1700 years is been independent, a population that throughout history has proved to be wise and worth of its territorial extension.

On 301 a.d. dates back to the foundation of a small community of Christians persecuted for their faith and gathered around a stonecutter Dalmatian Marino.

Since then, between history and legend, it developed a sovereign State, nowadays a member of the Council of Europe and of the United Nations, but still very much tied to its origins and traditions.

Napoleon Bonaparte understood it and offered gifts and friendship to the small Republic, but the offer of territorial expansion was refused by the inhabitants, deemed too risky. The value of San Marino was also understood by the General Giuseppe Garibaldi, who, during the fighting for the unification of Italy, took refuge in San Marino with thousands of soldiers.

We can’t even forget the words of the American President Abraham Lincoln that demonstrated its goodwill by writing to the Captains Regent “… while your domain is small, however your state is one of the most honored of all history … “.

In the picture: View of San Marino witches step climb to the first tower

Tunnels ...living history

Inside Gallery of Borgo Maggiore where runs the “by Train San Marino”

“Welcome to the ancient land of freedom” is the phrase that welcomes you into the borders of the Republic of San Marino: land of liberty and hospitality, which has never denied the right of asylum and assistance regardless of political or religious ideas.

The neutrality that has characterized the Republic on many occasions had no exceptions during World War II, when San Marino declared itself not involved in the conflict but its 15.000 inhabitants offered asylum in tunnels more than 100.000 displaced people in the district during the passage of the battlefront along the Gothic line.

The galleries in which today is back to run the train, are testimony of the two faces of the Fascist time: major infrastructure and the dramas of the population.

The history of the railway Rimini-San Marino began on 1928 December 3, more than 3.000 workers, 8 million working hours, 30 tons of dynamite, 20.000 tons of cement and, at least, 32 Miles of line.

Borgo Maggiore Unesco World Heritage site

Borgo Maggiore panoramic view of historical centre and arcades

Since 2008 the historical centre of San Marino and Borgo Maggiore are recognized among the Unesco World Heritage sites: San Marino is the oldest Republic in the world and the only city-states that subsists, representing an important milestone of the development of democratic models in Europe and throughout the world.

Borgo Maggiore is one of the nine Castles of the Republic, the second by number of inhabitants, its construction dates back to the 12th century with the name of Mercatale: testimony of the time are the small squares and porticos below which, according to an ancient tradition, it still plays regularly, every Thursday, the market. This small village had, in fact, an economic and strategic importance since the middle ages.

Among the places of interest we include Piazza Grande – where he still held the markets and the fair of agriculture – the clock tower and the Church of the Suffrage.

In its territory are finally State Hospital (in Cailungo) and the cableway that link with the city of San Marino.