San Marino
A republic of nine castelli on the slopes of Monte Titano, set in the hills of Romagna above Rimini, with the Riviera and the starred kitchens of the coast below.
- Arrival
- Rimini Fellini · RMI
- To the Republic
- About 16 km from the airport as the crow flies
- Private jets
- Rimini Fellini, through local handling agents
- Best time
- May to September
The city
A small state on a single mountain.
San Marino is a sovereign republic wholly surrounded by Italy, its territory divided into nine castelli spread over the slopes of Monte Titano and the valleys below. The capital holds the summit; Borgo Maggiore sits at the foot of the cliff, joined to it by cableway; the other castelli run down towards the Marecchia and the Riviera.
There are no five-star hotels in the Republic, so many visitors stay on the coast at Rimini or Riccione and drive up for the day. The summit is at its best from May to September, with highs of twenty to twenty-seven degrees; November is the wettest month.
- Monte Titano The limestone ridge that carries the capital and its towers, listed by UNESCO with the historic centre.
- The cableway The short ride between Borgo Maggiore and the old town, rising up the face of the mountain.
- Borgo Maggiore The market town at the foot of the cliff, the most direct way up to the summit.
Arriving
Rimini for the Republic.
With no airport of its own, the Republic is reached through Rimini Fellini at Miramare, sixteen kilometres away in a straight line, on the coast between Rimini and Riccione.
- Rome 40 min
- Munich 1 h 00
- Doha 5 h 35
- Toronto 9 h 15 long-range jet
- Beijing 10 h 35 long-range jet
When to go
May to September.
Up on the mountain it is cooler than on the Riviera. The warm months are May to September, peaking at 27 °C in July and August, with rain spread through the year. Autumn is wetter, with more than 100 mm in November.
- 6° J 49
- 8° F 52
- 11° M 61
- 15° A 66
- 20° M 64
- 24° J 55
- 27° J 53
- 27° A 62
- 23° S 75
- 17° O 79
- 12° N 108
- 7° D 64
Where to stay
On the coast, or on the summit.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Grand Hotel Rimini A Belle Époque hotel on the Rimini shore, with the Dolce Vita Spa, a summer pool and its own stretch of beach.
- Grand Hotel Des Bains A Liberty building on Viale Gramsci, two blocks from the sea, with its own spa and outdoor pool.
- Hotel Titano Forty-two rooms inside the walls, with a panoramic dining room.
- Hotel iDesign A small design hotel whose terrace takes in both the summit and the sea.
Where to dine
Starred tables in the hills and on the coast.
The MICHELIN Guide selects no restaurant inside the Republic; these are the closest starred and selected tables in Romagna and the Marche, within about 25 km.
- Magnolia Two Michelin stars Creative €€€€ Longiano
- Dalla Gioconda One Michelin star Traditional regional €€€ Gabicce Monte
- Il Piastrino One Michelin star Traditional regional €€€ Pennabilli
- Vite MICHELIN Guide Modern €€€ Coriano
Elsewhere in Italy
More reasons to come.
-
Rome
The Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Vatican across the Tiber.
-
Milan
The Last Supper, the roof of the Duomo, and the fashion weeks.
-
Venice
Palazzi on the Grand Canal, and the islands of the lagoon.
-
Florence
The Uffizi, the Duomo, and the Chianti hills to the south.
-
Como
Villas and gardens along the lake, an hour north of Milan.
-
Amalfi
Positano, Ravello and the coast road, with Capri offshore.
-
Porto Cervo
Yachts, the Piazzetta, and the beaches of north-east Sardinia.
-
Taormina
A hill town over the Ionian Sea, facing Etna.
Flying to San Marino?
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