This tiny mountainous country in Europe is surrounded by Italy, but it has a unique character of its own that makes it worth visiting. At just 23.6 square miles in area, this small state can very easily be visited in one day. Most individuals go from Bologna to San Marino for a single day vacation, and many cruise ship passengers come from far and wide merely to visit another nation for a single day. However, this is entirely possible.

Your first stop in San Marino should be the 11th-century Three Towers, followed by a stroll through the city's cable car and through the walled old town, where you can admire the picturesque orange tile rooftops. Then, you can stroll by shops selling more tax-free goods than you may never see, and stop into quiet churches to soak up the atmosphere. During your 24-hour stay in San Marino, you should stop at a tiny wine bar after exploring the city's hills and cobblestone streets. There, you can sip some regional Emilia-Romagna wine from Italy. The dinner would be a wonderful way to round off a day in San Marino while looking for a place to stay. Staying the night in one of the 15 hotels in the old town is highly advised because it will make for a much more comfortable and restful experience.

Although San Marino is not as well-known for tourism as its European neighbors, its unique qualities entice visitors to return. The well-known food, charming medieval old town, and fascinating history are more than enough reasons to schedule a second trip to the hilly microstate encircled by north-central Italy.

A visit to San Marino is an extraordinary excursion thanks to the unexpected variety of bizarre museums there, including the Museum of Curiosities and the Torture Museum, which takes tourists on a tour through human brutality. Over 100 actual torture tools from the 16th and 17th centuries are on display at the Torture Museum, which takes visitors on a journey through human savagery. It also has philological reconstructions from the 18th and 19th centuries, like an iron chair and Spanish spiders. Visitors are astounded by each of these devices, which spark conversation about the complexity of torture techniques.

The museum of the creatures of the night, which is situated in San Marino's historic neighborhood, invites guests on a quest to discover the most fanciful characters that have long disturbed people's psyches, including werewolves, ghosts, and bloodsuckers. In particular, the myths surrounding the two frightening phenomena of lycanthropy and vampirism are explored in a fascinating exhibition that traces some of the history and cultural beliefs of European nations. This is a tour through some of the most iconic horror movie characters, including Dracula, Nosferatu, the Vampire of London, and Countess Bathory.

The Republic of San Marino, also known as San Marino, is thought to be the world's first sovereign state and oldest republic. When compared to other micronations like Luxembourg, Andorra, Lichtenstein, and Monaco, San Marino has a history that is as extensive and rich, dating back to before the Middle Ages. Saint Marinus left a nearby island in Croatia on September 3, 301 A.D., traveled to Italy by ship, and eventually settled on Mount Titano, where the modern-day City of San Marino is situated, to erect a church.

Many tourists and visitors wonder why San Marino lies entirely inside the borders of Italy, to which the local's joke "Why do Italy entirely surround San Marino?" San Marino is actually the elder nation. In 1631, the Papacy formally acknowledged it as a sovereign nation. Despite its obvious proximity to and close ties with Italy, it had never participated in either World War 1 or 2.

As in most European nations, San Marino can be challenging to locate on a map. Nevertheless, there are a number of tiny market stalls positioned along the edges of streets, walkways, and the central square. The main thing to note is that everything in San Marino's capital is significantly less expensive than it would be in Italy. The city is primarily filled with leather market stalls, souvenir shops, shoe stores, and fur products. The fact that these goods are exempt from all taxes means that VAT won't be added to the price.

This is a significant benefit for the development of San Marino tourism as well as the country's overall economic performance. Every visitor can buy everything they need at competitive prices and be satisfied with their choice of clothing and the country to which they decided to go.

The landmass in which San Marino is located is a diverse paradise for lovers of visual beauty and photographers. Rural areas on the distant Apennine mountain range have unusually fascinating vistas. And if you reach her peak, you will be at the highest point in the country, overlooking the Upper Valley of the Marecchia. Titano's summit has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008. You can find stunning secret gardens with beautiful fountains and even more Instagrammable views in the city's narrow stone-paved streets.

It is essential to witness the sunrise in San Marino with your own eyes, and later, between 8 and 9 a.m., the sun should be high enough in the sky for the early morning golden hour. The golden hour is ideal for walking because most tourists and the overwhelming San Marino population are in the city throughout the day, therefore there are fewer people in the city in the morning.

Every July, the republic draws visitors to its ancient regions to participate in the state's centuries-old historical activities. All of this takes place as part of the "Days of the Middle Ages" celebration. Don't worry, the festival's objective is not to recreate those harsh times and lower the San Marino population, but rather to replicate the lives of people in the Middle Ages while having fun.

San Marino is quite proud of this concept of time travel since it allows visitors to experience the Middle Ages via all of their senses, and as a result, tourists flock to this festival. All activities and ceremonies are brought to life in a fairy-tale setting, and significant monuments serve as scenes. A costume parade, music, crossbow tournaments, flying flags, drummers, and dancers perform every evening in the main square as part of the festival. So, if you are a fan of medieval duels, costumed plays, or shooting with a crossbow, you simply cannot miss this festival. Keep reading this list of reasons to visit San Marino to learn more about this country.

The national flag and coat of arms of San Marino feature an image of the Three Turrets of San Marino, a group of towers that are situated on three points of the Monte Titano Mountain, for which the country's capital is renowned. The oldest and most well-known of these is the Tower of Guaita. It was constructed as a prison in the eleventh century. After being renovated numerous times, it took until the 15th century to take on its present appearance.

On the summit of Monte Titano is where you'll find the Chesta Tower. Here, in the Saint Marin Museum, which opened its doors in 1956, are more than 1,550 weapons from the Middle Ages to the present. It was constructed in the 12th century over the remnants of an earlier Roman fort. The Montalais Tower, on the other hand, is situated on a low ridge top and is not accessible to the general public. It was built in the 14th century to counter the Malatesta family's expanding authority in the region. It was also utilized as a prison, hence the only way inside the tower is through a door around seven meters above ground level, as was usual for prison buildings at the time.

Delectable cuisine is one of the reasons to visit San Marino that every traveler should know. It is hardly surprising that Italian cuisine influences Sammarinese cuisine. It has a Mediterranean flavor and emphasizes locally sourced, fresh food as well as Italian pasta and meats. The Romagna area, where many dishes are shared, comes closest to describing it. However, the Sammarinese also have their unique cuisine. A soup called "Faglioni con le cotiche" is prepared with Christmas beans and bacon. Chickpea noodles in pasta e ceci are seasoned with rosemary and garlic. The ability of the Sammarinese to press olive oil and make cheese is well renowned. In 1899, they actually held three displays at the Paris World's Fair.

The culture of the Sammarinese places a high value on meals and food enjoyment. They also take great pride in their three towers, which are built on Monte Titano's three peaks. So it is not surprising that they named their desserts after them. Torta Titano and Torta tre Monte, are just a couple of cakes inspired by them.

Of course, the area produces a lot of wine as well. White, red, and cask-aged wines are made in San Marino. When red meat is on the menu, they serve a Brugneto or Tessano, which are red wines. Biancale or Roncale, which are both white, are offered if the main course is white meat or fish.

The cable car that travels from the nation's capital to the summit of the mountain that towers over the city and is home to the ancient citadel and its related structures is the most well-liked form of recreation in San Marino. You will have some stunning vistas of the countryside, the Adriatic shore, and the mountain range during the journey.

The San Marino - Borgo Maggiore Cable Car (Funivia di San Marino - Borgo Maggiore) is a cable car that runs between Borgo Maggiore and San Marino's historic center. During the descent from the cableway, stunning panoramic views of Borgo Maggiore, part of the Republic of San Marino, and Italy open up. The San Marino cable car has a 338-meter length, a 166-meter height difference, a 2-minute trip duration, a 6 m/s speed, a maximum one-time capacity of 50 + 1, a maximum capacity of 1200 passengers per hour, and traction power of 180 kW.