Surrounded by Italy, San Marino is one of the world's
smallest countries and claims to be the world's oldest republic. It is located
657 in above sea level with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside
and Adriatic coast, and is situated only 10km from Rimini. San Marino is an
echo from an era when city-states proliferated across Europe. According to the
legend, San Marino was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus who
arrived from the island of flab in Dalmatia. He had climbed Mt. Titano to found
a small community of Christians, persecuted for their faith by the Emperor
Diocletian.
San Marino is made up of few towns dotted around the
mountain sides. Its landscape is mostly occupied by "Mount Titano"
which is part of the Apennine range. The country’s capital San Marino is itself
called 'San Marino and sits on the slopes of Mount Titan. It is Well-known for
its medieval walled old town and narrow cobblestone streets which are remnants
of the country's historic architecture. No doubt that San Marino has the most
beautiful view from a city in the world. Sitting atop rolling hills and
standing at 700 meters high on Mount Titano, San Marino offers panoramic views
for miles around. You can catch a magnificent glimpse from the historic
fortresses, distinctive towers, and castle like citadels dating to the 11th
century that perched atop Titano's neighboring peaks looking out to the Adriatic coast. To conserve its
historic legacy the site "San Marino-Historic Centre and Mount
Titano" was included as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008.
At present, the economy of the Republic of San Marino is dominated by tourism
which plays host to more than three million visitors every year.
Monte Titano OR "Mount Titan"
Monte Titano is a mountain of the Apennines and the highest
peak in San Marino. The mountain stands 739 meters above sea level and is
located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. It was inscribed as
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 under the combined title "San Marino
Historic Center and Mount Titano." The World Heritage site encompasses
Mount Titano and the other structures such as the fortification towers, walls,
gates and bastions. The views of the entire nation of San Marino and further
afield can be viewed scenically from the top of Monte Titano.
The vegetation types set in this Mediterranean zone is
obviously influenced by elevation variations. Numerous trees inhabit the
mountain, including chestnuts, oaks, laburnum, cypress, fir trees and some
shrubs and asparagus, typical of the driest areas, such as the territory in the
Three Towers of San Marino vicinity. In here you can find roe deer, wild boar,
deer, weasels, marten, porcupine, hare, hedgehogs, polecats, badgers and foxes
as a part of the common faunal community of Monte Titano.
The geologic
evolution of Monte Titano is an interesting story. It was once under the sea during
the Tertiary era. Violent earthquakes caused major upheavals in the Earth's
surface. Because of these intensive earthquakes, a mass of rock situated about
80 km from the mountain, was lifted and slid slowly toward the Adriatic Sea.
This mass of rock gave rise to various mountains, including Mount Titano. The
layout of the Mount Titano presents three peaks, each crowned by ancient towers
named Guaita, Cesta and Montale, with triple fortifications that enclose the
capital city.
Montale
Montale is the smallest of the three peaks Monte Titano. It
is believed that the tower on the peak was constructed in the 14th century.
According to the history, the tower has been constructed to give protection
against the increasing power of the Malatesta family in that region. Montale
was also used as a prison, and accordingly, the only entrance to the tower is a
door about seven meters from ground level, which was common for prison
architecture of the time.
Fortress of Guaita
The Guaita fortress is the oldest and most famous of the
three towers constructed on Monte Titano. Built in the 11th century, the tower
served briefly as a prison. It is one of the three towers depicted on both the
national flag and coat of arms. The fortress was registered as one of the World
Heritage Sites in 2008.
Cesta Tower
Cesta or De La Fratta is one of three peaks located on the
highest of Monte Titano's summits. It was constructed in the 13th century on
the remains of an older Roman fort. The tower hosted a museum that showcases
over 1,550 weapons dating from the medieval era to the modern day. It was
created in 1956 to honor Saint Marinus. All three towers depicted on the
national flag of the country.
Basilica di San Marino, the "Man of the Sea"
The Basilica di San Marino or "Man of the Sea" is
a Catholic church located in the Republic of San Marino. The basilica is the
main church of the City of San Marino as the country has a distinct domination
of historic religious buildings of Christian faith. The church is built in the
Neoclassical style, with a porch of eight Corinthian columns The relics of St.
Marino are enshrined in the basilica. The church that you see today was built
in 1836 in place of an earlier one that dated to 7th century.
The Basiclica is a unique reflection of historic
architecture of the country. The interior of the basilica consists of three
naves, supported by sixteen Corinthian columns which form a large ambulatory
around the semi-circular apse. The front porch of 8 columns, six at the front
and two either side, has a Latin inscription written above it. Also, a
repository bust in silver and gold dated to 2 September 1602 appears to the
right of altar. In addition there is a small altar dedicated to Mary Magdelene
and a painting by Elisabetta Sirani, on the subject "Noli Me Tangere".
Palazzo Pubblico The City Hall
The Palazzo Pubblico which means the "Public
Palace" is the town hall of the City of San Marino as well as its official
Government Building. It is believed that most of the official State ceremonies
were held at this city hall. The building was also the seat of the Republic's
main institutional and administrative bodies, the Captains Regent, the Grand
and General Council and the Congress of State.
The main section of the building is topped by battlements
over a series of corbels. The clock tower above also features such an
arrangement with battlements and corbels. The overall design is similar to the
Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, but on a much smaller scale. After a hundred years
of existence, it was becoming unsafe in today's standards; therefore a complex
restoration project was undergone. The intervention was completed on 30
September 1996 by the internationally renowned architect Gae Aulenti.
St. Francis Museum
The St. Francis Museum is housed inside the cloister of the
homonymous Church, which was erected in 1376. The museum has a great collection
of frescoes and paintings which were realized by the main exponents of several
regional schools of painting between the 15th and the 18th century. In addition
two small halls annexed to the museum host paintings and sculptures by Emilio
Ambron which date back to the early 1900s.
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