The Republic of San Marino

Enjoy a day touring diminutive San Marino, the world’s oldest republic, which being inland has survived surprisingly intact since being founded in 301 A.D.

It's a relaxing ninety-minute drive through the picturesque countryside to San Marino, which perches atop the slopes of Mount Titano. Despite being Europe’s third-smallest state (after Vatican City and Monaco) and least populated state, San Marino has a surprisingly large number of fine boutiques, restaurants, and intriguing museums.

Upon arrival, you’ll have free time to explore them on your own. You may wish to start in the medieval city center, which you’ll enter through the Porta San Francesco. The expansive Piazza della Libertà, was built in the 14th century over ancient cisterns.

The adjacent Public Palace features stone excavated from Mount Titano and is decorated with coats-of-arms from the nine districts that comprise San Marino. The nearby Basilica of the Saint has a neoclassical design and contains the relics of Saint Marinus, the republic’s founder, who fled here after being persecuted for his Christian sermons. If you’re feeling ambitious, you might also climb the hill to La Rocca, an 11th-century fortress towering above Mount Titano. Enjoy lunch on your own and perhaps do some shopping before rejoining your coach for the drive back to Ravenna.