San Marino: travel to the gates of time

The bells just ringed seven times. It is this morning’s time that Wanderlix offers you a unique destination: San Marino. If this morning again you were in one of the most beautiful corners of Emilia-Romagna, you are now in another place, almost another world. One thing is certain, you are no longer in Italy. Welcome to the one the premises name Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino .

San Marino is one of the smallest states in the world. The third, behind the Vatican and Monaco. Moreover, the state of Saint-marin shares a common point with the first named: you are here in an enclave of the Italian peninsula, not far from Rimini and Bologna. This particularity does not date from yesterday, since San Marino is simply the oldest republic in the world. If the constitution dates "only" from October 8, 1600, its foundation dates back to September 3, 301. Here you are visiting an old state of almost 1,720 years.

It thus appears as an evidence that a rich historical heritage awaits you. A half-Renaissance heritage, half-medieval, which gives the tone to your stay and the atmosphere it reigns.

From your first steps on the Saint-marin lands, calm and architecture give the feeling of travelling in time. As if, suddenly, you were back centuries. This feeling strengthens from the first visit, when you cross the door of the Palazzo Pubblico . This Renaissance building bears witness to the rich history of the country, thanks to the various works decorating the palace halls, including the splendid Council Hall. No wonder, so the government is now sitting there.

On leaving, the streets of San Marino await you. An ideal passage, which allows you to discover the old houses of the village, but also to join the next visit: the three Tours. These buildings are a real treasure. A few centuries back, these same towers were used to protect the small state of the various assaults he was targeting. Attacks that the republic will not yield once. As if the peninsula had found cousins of our Gaulish irreducibles.

Built between the 11th and 14th century, the Tre Torre are today the most beautiful medieval ensemble still on foot. The location of these fortifications is also exceptional, since they are placed on the mountainside. Moreover this mountain, it is not really like the others: welcome to Mount Titano

Situated 739 metres away, he also tells you the history of San Marino. It is here that a modest stone tailor from Rimini would have decided to settle, in order to escape the persecution suffered by Christians. His name? Marin.

There, at the top of the mountain, you're somewhere else. A few clouds veil the panorama. Moreover, they are the ones who, from the top of their atmosphere, diffuse this singular aura. The one to be on the roof of the world, to play the funeral. To become invincible. Then come the sun. The clouds disappear, the horizon appears. At this moment you are there: you take a full view of it. Lower your head, contemplate the plain, before raising it and facing the Apennines. Because San Marino is also this, an extraordinary natural paradise and green landscapes with a loss of sight.

Even downstairs, there is something to be blown away. From above, one tends to forget that a rock emerges from the plain and that the human built a country on the side of the mountains. Take the cable car, and you'll understand why.

The morning ends. It opens the appetite for all these emotions, right? It’s time to take a break, refuel the energy. It is also an opportunity to learn more about San Marino and its heritage, through gastronomy. Find a trattoria Convincing is a game of children, catch-to-tourists getting rare in the vicinity.

Enjoy it to make your taste buds discover the traditional Saint-marin pasta: the strozzapreti . The time the chef cooks you, give yourself a pint of Titanbräu, the local beer. Barely finished drink, a scent of sauce is invited to your nostrils. The mixture of meat, tomatoes and basil gives water to the mouth. The dish is served.

For dessert, your hosts will be proud to serve you a part of Bustrengo a typical dessert of the country made with rice. The Bustrengo is also a flagship dish of Emilia-Romagna gastronomy. The region has strongly influenced the terroir sammarinese , it is not a surprise to find common specialties.

But be careful, this is not a reason to tell the premises that they are romagnoli or even Italian. They could lead you to the Museum of Torture and use you as a guinea pig.

After regaining strength, a digestive step is required. For this, two possibilities are available to you: go back to the historic centre or take the direction of the Borgo Maggiore, another exceptional place. In both cases, enjoy it to discover the boutiques of craftsmen. They are numerous and full of artistic treasures. Everything is shaped by hand, from the most traditional ways.

Here we take the time to shape his work, to check each small detail. Whether it is pottery, jewelry or summer tunics, nothing is left to chance. But the result is worth it. You understood it, manual work is much more than a specialty, it is an art of living.

Craft is only one of the many examples where this philosophy is adopted. To realize this, it is enough to direct its curiosity towards agriculture, probably the most striking example. Where other countries begin to return to basic principles, to respect the rhythm of nature, Saint-Marine agriculture has never ceased to follow them. The main tool is the hand, nothing else. That's why strozzapreti , your bustrengo And your wine was so delicious this noon.

Time defies at a speed, and it's already time to conclude your escapade. But before you leave, head to the Basilica del Santo , the main religious building of the state. Dedicated to the saint-founder, the basilica shows us once again the beauty of the Saint-marin heritage. What to end this journey in another time, in the most beautiful ways.

So this passage ends in San Marino. In the heart of Italy, in Emilia-Romagna and near the Marches, San Marino is worth a visit. Yet, too many travellers forget to include it in their travel books. I'm wrong. For if the country is one of the smallest in the world, its beauty and its history are immense.