The bus from Rimini to San Marino was full of Russians. I did not expect this destination to be so popular with my compatriots although I am used to meet them everywhere from Costa Rica jungles to Cambodia. Later I read online that Russian is taught at San Marino schools because of a large number of Russian speaking tourists.
I admit that I went to San Marino just to check it off my bucket list. Before going there, I heard that there is not much to see in it, it is a tourist trap and so on. Sure enough, tourists outnumber the locals. But San Marino totally was worth a visit.
San Marino is officially the world’s smallest republic and one of the oldest democracies. It occupies 61 km2 (24 sq mi) and is completely surrounded by Italy similar to Vatican. San Marino’s constitution was written in 1600 in Latin. It is in effect to this day.
This microstate derives its name from Saint Marinus who according to the legend founded there the first Christian community for those who fled persecution for their faith by the Emperor Diocletian.
San Marino managed to preserve its independence through several strokes of luck. First, a Sanmarinese politician befriended Corsican general Napoleon Bonaparte during his Italian campaign, but wisely declined his offers for more territory. Later, the small republic gave refuge to other Republicans throughout Italy, including Garibaldi, which made him disposed to respect Sanmarinese wishes to stay independent. San Marino also gave honorary citizenship to Abraham Lincoln, which inspired the Great Emancipator to laud San Marino’s old and stable republican institutions and point to them as an example for the US and the world to follow. https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/San_Marino
The bus ride from Rimini is about 50 minutes. The road goes up and up until it reaches the top of Monte Titano where the state capital is located. It is also called San Marino and it is not the only city in this tiny country.
There is a lot of history here and it can simply be a nice place to hike between the famous San Marino towers.
My next stop was Venice.
Super! I was not aware of the San Marino’s history, thanks for enlightening us all! It will be interesting to visit this tiny Republic some day.
There is a lot more to tell about this tiny state. It’s just not possible to do that in a travel blog. Thanks for your comment!