Sept 07 - Rimini (Day trip to San Marino)

 Sept 07 - Rimini (Day trip to San Marino)

Off to San Marino this morning, the 3rd smallest country in Europe.  Only about 10K from Rimini, San Marino (a.k.a. The Republic of San Marino), was founded in 301 AD and sits atop the Apennine mountain range. 

Our destination this morning was actually the ‘City of San Marino’, a walled city and the capital of the republic.  Less than an hour away by bus, we hadn’t been here long before deciding that this really is a nice place.  With much of the architecture here stemming from medieval times there’s a very ‘Olde Worlde’ feel about town, and, as we’d arrived before most of the tourist buses, the lack of people just added to the whole experience. 

As part of our ‘exploring’ around town we paid a visit to the Palazzo Pubblico, the ‘Public Palace’, it being both the Town Hall and the State Government Building.  This is a particularly nice building, built in the early 1800’s, and with it’s very ornate council chamber room and castle-like structure it’s just something else that adds to the medieval atmosphere of the town. 

With its well preserved castle walls, narrow, steep, and cobbled streets, palaces, and beautiful views, this really is a lovely town and we’ve had a great time here.  However, it’s not all ‘wine and roses’ though, there happens to be a few too many tacky tourist shops and, a real surprise here, quite a few gun shops around the place spoiling its image somewhat.  Nevertheless though, it still gets a thumbs-up recommendation from the both of us. 



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