🏰 San Marino: Three Towers & Timeless Views in Europe’s Oldest Republic

We visited the charming country of San Marino, a tiny gem surrounded entirely by Italy. As the world’s 5th smallest country, it sits atop a mountain, crowned by three iconic towers. We strolled through the town, reminiscent of an Italian hilltown like Montepulciano, and hiked the Witches’ Path to the second tower. Though we didn’t have high expectations, it quickly became one of our favorite stops of the trip. Since Venice now restricts large cruise ships, our Mediterranean cruise docked in Porto Corsini (near Ravenna), offering an excursion to San Marino with a scenic 90-minute bus ride.

We went on the NCL Republic of San Marino Excursion and spent the day exploring San Marino, the world’s oldest republic. After a scenic 90-minute drive through the Italian countryside, we arrived in this tiny mountaintop nation, and were immediately drawn into the medieval charm, fine boutiques, and intriguing museums. We entered through the Porta San Francesco to discover the historic city center, where highlights included the expansive Piazza della Libertà, the stone-built Public Palace, and the neoclassical Basilica of the Saint. The views of the three towers were absolutely breathtaking!

@perfuzion

The Republic of San Marino is the oldest Republic in the world, and its medieval castle with 3 towers was stunning! We were able to explore 2 of the towers and marvel at the medieval weapons in the Museum of Ancient Arms in the Cesta tower. #sanmarino #republicofsanmarino #montetitano #guaita #cesta #montale #medievaltiktok #medieval #medievalfortress #medievalcastle @Scott Perdue

♬ Italian Medieval Song – Andrei Krylov