San Marino and areas around it?
Sep 6th, 2017, 02:08 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
San Marino and areas around it?
My wife saw some postings on Facebook about San Marino. Have never been. Is there enough to do there itself to base there? or is it a better day trip from say Bologna? if Bologna, how is the drive in March? or are trains convenient. From what I saw, the train only goes as far as Rimini
Sep 6th, 2017, 02:20 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stayed overnight though not much to do but San Marino the country (?) or whatever it is is rather bucolic with rolling hills - outside the rather tacky San Marino town itself - when I was there full of Italians day tripping in to buy tax-free or tax-cheaper tobacco, booze, etc. Really a mob scene in summer but probably not in March.
Though you can take a train to Rimini and bus I'd drive if I could and explore some of the 'country'side - but I did it mainly for the novelty and though the countryside looked neat from the town itself not remarkable for this lovely part of Italy.
The old fort on top of a steep hill in the town was neat to hike up to:
https://www.google.com/search?q=san+...w=1745&bih=863
Bologna-Rimini by fastest train just an hour - by regional trains 2 hours - advantage of latter no need to book in fact cannot reserve seats at all and are dirt-cheap - if by rail book maybe fastest train for discount - www.trenitalia.com but those are for a specific train at a specific time - no changes, refunds I believe -OK for going but never know when you will want to return so regional train - always can get on - may be good for that.
But again I think it may be a quicker drive and a scenic one too. Trains yes to Rimini then buses another 30 mins or so - I noticed traces of an old railway to San Marino from Riminin and there has been talk of re-using it but never comes to fruition.
Though you can take a train to Rimini and bus I'd drive if I could and explore some of the 'country'side - but I did it mainly for the novelty and though the countryside looked neat from the town itself not remarkable for this lovely part of Italy.
The old fort on top of a steep hill in the town was neat to hike up to:
https://www.google.com/search?q=san+...w=1745&bih=863
Bologna-Rimini by fastest train just an hour - by regional trains 2 hours - advantage of latter no need to book in fact cannot reserve seats at all and are dirt-cheap - if by rail book maybe fastest train for discount - www.trenitalia.com but those are for a specific train at a specific time - no changes, refunds I believe -OK for going but never know when you will want to return so regional train - always can get on - may be good for that.
But again I think it may be a quicker drive and a scenic one too. Trains yes to Rimini then buses another 30 mins or so - I noticed traces of an old railway to San Marino from Riminin and there has been talk of re-using it but never comes to fruition.
Sep 6th, 2017, 04:02 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was there a couple years ago and really liked it.
Here's a bit from the trip report:
San Marino – Fantastic! This is right up there with the Blue Grotto in Capri as places I loved but almost didn’t go to because people said they were just tourist traps. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s worth it. The fact that it’s an independent republic and has a lot of history is just icing on the cake, not the reason you go, but a fun bit of trivia. The reasons you go are: 1) It’s a beautiful little city with beautiful, historic buildings and very interesting tower/castles, and 2) it has a drop dead gorgeous setting with views out to the Adriatic (even across to Croatia on a clear day) and back into the Apennine mountains. 360 degree views, really breath taking. Yes, it has a busloads of tourists between about 11 am and 6 pm, so it’s not very pleasant then.
The best way to do a trip to San Marino is to schedule two days at a hotel within the historic center, arrive after 4pm the first. See it then and the following morning till about 11. Then do a day trip (San Leo is great) and get back around 4pm. Leave the following morning before 11am. It’s much nicer in the evening and early morning.
The streets are lined with shops, mostly selling jewelry, watches, sunglasses, handbags, perfume and guns. This is a two edged sword. On the one hand they certainly do detract from the ambiance there would be without them. On the other hand, if you are in the market for any of those things, the prices are great – at least 25% or more below elsewhere in Italy.
Photos of it are here:http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p366316874
Here's a bit from the trip report:
San Marino – Fantastic! This is right up there with the Blue Grotto in Capri as places I loved but almost didn’t go to because people said they were just tourist traps. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s worth it. The fact that it’s an independent republic and has a lot of history is just icing on the cake, not the reason you go, but a fun bit of trivia. The reasons you go are: 1) It’s a beautiful little city with beautiful, historic buildings and very interesting tower/castles, and 2) it has a drop dead gorgeous setting with views out to the Adriatic (even across to Croatia on a clear day) and back into the Apennine mountains. 360 degree views, really breath taking. Yes, it has a busloads of tourists between about 11 am and 6 pm, so it’s not very pleasant then.
The best way to do a trip to San Marino is to schedule two days at a hotel within the historic center, arrive after 4pm the first. See it then and the following morning till about 11. Then do a day trip (San Leo is great) and get back around 4pm. Leave the following morning before 11am. It’s much nicer in the evening and early morning.
The streets are lined with shops, mostly selling jewelry, watches, sunglasses, handbags, perfume and guns. This is a two edged sword. On the one hand they certainly do detract from the ambiance there would be without them. On the other hand, if you are in the market for any of those things, the prices are great – at least 25% or more below elsewhere in Italy.
Photos of it are here:http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/p366316874
Sep 7th, 2017, 07:27 AM
#5
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've wanted to visit San Marino since I was in 4th grade. In 2014 we spent one night at the really nice Hotel Restaurant Cesare. We liked it so much we returned the next year and spent three nights and thoroughly enjoyed our time.
The first day there we visited all of the towers and mountaintop museums, which were very interesting. Since we were staying in RSM our hotel gave us a discount coupon to purchase tickets to all of their sights. Later in the day we went to their main postal office and bought passport stamps, which is a very touristy activity, but who cares.
The third day we took a road trip to Maranella to browse around the really cool Ferrari Museum. I bought a fleece with their logo because that is the closest to Ferrari ownership i will maintain in this lifetime.
We did not find RSM to be jammed with tourists and we were there in May and July. At night the streets are empty and great to stroll around.
Go and have fun.
Buon viaggio,
The first day there we visited all of the towers and mountaintop museums, which were very interesting. Since we were staying in RSM our hotel gave us a discount coupon to purchase tickets to all of their sights. Later in the day we went to their main postal office and bought passport stamps, which is a very touristy activity, but who cares.
The third day we took a road trip to Maranella to browse around the really cool Ferrari Museum. I bought a fleece with their logo because that is the closest to Ferrari ownership i will maintain in this lifetime.
We did not find RSM to be jammed with tourists and we were there in May and July. At night the streets are empty and great to stroll around.
Go and have fun.
Buon viaggio,
Sep 7th, 2017, 11:48 AM
#6
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since I live nearby, I've only visited San Marino on day trips, and I've always found the center to be quite crowded. However, the path that leads from one tower to another has never been crowded, and does have wonderful views.
San Marino borders on Emilia Romagna, and on Le Marche, where I live. To the west and south is some very beautiful countryside. San Leo is quite near, and in my opinion is even more beautiful than San Marino. It has a massive castle high on a cliff. The view from the plain below is really impressive.
If you continue south, you'll come to Pennabilli, a very interesting town on two different high hills (one with a castle called Penna and the other with a castle called Billi). There's not much left of the castles. The town is full of works of a local artist/poet named Tonino Guerra. It also has a garden and orchard of forgotten plants. It's a very quirky and interesting little town. It has a little Museum of Calculation, which my husband and I found very interesting, with exhibits of calculation tools from counting sticks to computers. I can't remember if there were English explanations.
Going further south, you'd come to the Parco Sasso di Simone e Simoncello. In and around this park are some very strange rock formations, a most unusual landscape. This is an area where Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Le Marche all meet, and the park is in all three regions.
This entire drive would take less than two hours. You'd need about three hours in San Leo if you want to visit the castle (highly recommended), and maybe one hour in Pennabilli. You could take a quicker (but scenic) road back to San Marino by passing through the park to Carpegna, and returning towards the coast by the SP2 until you see the turnoff for San Marino. That route back would take less than an hour.
San Marino borders on Emilia Romagna, and on Le Marche, where I live. To the west and south is some very beautiful countryside. San Leo is quite near, and in my opinion is even more beautiful than San Marino. It has a massive castle high on a cliff. The view from the plain below is really impressive.
If you continue south, you'll come to Pennabilli, a very interesting town on two different high hills (one with a castle called Penna and the other with a castle called Billi). There's not much left of the castles. The town is full of works of a local artist/poet named Tonino Guerra. It also has a garden and orchard of forgotten plants. It's a very quirky and interesting little town. It has a little Museum of Calculation, which my husband and I found very interesting, with exhibits of calculation tools from counting sticks to computers. I can't remember if there were English explanations.
Going further south, you'd come to the Parco Sasso di Simone e Simoncello. In and around this park are some very strange rock formations, a most unusual landscape. This is an area where Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, and Le Marche all meet, and the park is in all three regions.
This entire drive would take less than two hours. You'd need about three hours in San Leo if you want to visit the castle (highly recommended), and maybe one hour in Pennabilli. You could take a quicker (but scenic) road back to San Marino by passing through the park to Carpegna, and returning towards the coast by the SP2 until you see the turnoff for San Marino. That route back would take less than an hour.
Sep 8th, 2017, 08:18 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of good info. Mixed feelings from the info on whether it Would be good to base in Bologna and do SM in a day trip? If so sounds better to have a car vs take trains etc. What stops are there between Bologna and SM?
Sep 8th, 2017, 11:47 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Years ago I was advised to skip San Marino in favor of San Leo, advice I was happy to take since San Marino has always sounded way too touristy for me, so cannot comment on whether I would have enjoyed San Marino had I gone. However, if I were in Bologna, rather than rent a car, I would take the train to Rimini & take a taxi to San Marino. There is probably a regular bus, so I'd be tempted to take the bus back to Rimini.
If you prefer having a car & want to make a day of it, you might want to visit Santarcangelo di Romagna & Cesnatico (the historic port) for something completely different. Those are very small areas to explore so you can probably easily include them.
HOWEVER, depending on what time you go in March, the area between Bologna & San Marino can be INTENSELY foggy. INTENSELY. Five foot visibility. So don't commit to driving unless you know it's a clear day (and you want a clear day to go to San Marino anyway).
If you prefer having a car & want to make a day of it, you might want to visit Santarcangelo di Romagna & Cesnatico (the historic port) for something completely different. Those are very small areas to explore so you can probably easily include them.
HOWEVER, depending on what time you go in March, the area between Bologna & San Marino can be INTENSELY foggy. INTENSELY. Five foot visibility. So don't commit to driving unless you know it's a clear day (and you want a clear day to go to San Marino anyway).
Sep 8th, 2017, 12:16 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Again if going by train book fastest trains well in advance at www.trenitalia.com - and return to if you give yourself enough time to not have to rush back to Rimini station (again discounted tickets non-changeable from specific train) - www.seat61.com is the ultimate resource now on booking discounted tickets yourself - the Italian train site can be rather fickle. For general info Italian trains - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. and again regional trains just buy at station - there are reasons to not pre-buy online others say - no discounts over dirt-cheap flat fare.
