San Marino

San Marino is divided into nine centres (the “castelli”). 

San Marino is the chief town, then there is Serravalle, Borgo Maggiore, Faetano, Domagnano, Acquaviva, Fiorentino, Montegiardino and Chiesanuova.

The chief town historical centre is considered an entire monument, a medieval stronghold preserved during the centuries as a marvel for  posterity. Three wonderful fortresses stand on  the edge of Monte Titano. Some walls and communication trenches link them to the stronghold which is surrounded by a triple row  of walls which is broken up with doors, bastions and keeps. Within the walls, the streets,  squares,buildings and churches, all made of stone, maintain the austere and charming aspect of  medieval architecture. The three towers, Guaita, Cesta (seat of the Ancient Weapons Museum) and  Montale, attract visitors just like magnets. However,the Palazzo Pubblico (it's modern, despite its gothic style: Giosuè Carducci inaugurated it), Saint Francis' Church with the picture gallery and the Saint's basilica also deserve attention. In the eight  “castelli” the Malatesta fortress in Serravalle, the  Borgo Maggiore shrine, the “course of life” in  Domignano are worthy of a visit. Museums are a different matter.

In San Marino there are some really unusual museums. There is one dedicated to a unique model car, the Ferrari 250 (“Maranello Rosso”, Serravalle,  via Tre Settembre 3), one which contains more than one hundred cars and motorcycles dating from the beginning of the XX century till nowadays (Borgo Maggiore, via Boschetti).There is the ancient weapons museum(in the Cesta fortress) and the modern weapons museum (San Marino, contrada della Pieve). The curiosities museum is really unusual (San Marino, Salita alla Rocca 26) while the waxworks museum (via Lapicidi Marini 17) is very interesting. There is also the Reptilarium Acquarium ( via Paolo III). Moreover, there are two very attractive events which occur: the changing of the guard, whiich takes place in Piazza della Libertà, every half hour, from June 1^st till September 30^th, and the installation of the new Capitani Reggenti, which takes place on April 1^st  and on October 1^st.