After almost three weeks on the road, my Italian journey was coming to an end. There had been so much to discover (read here), and after crossing Italy from the Amalfi Coast to the Adriatic Sea, I was looking forward to one final highlight: visiting the tiny country of San Marino before heading to Venice and, finally, crossing the Alps back to Germany.
But before that, let’s explore the castles of San Marino and the canals of Venice. How exciting!
Read my previous blog posts here:
My Adventures in Florence, Pisa and Lucca
Following the Chianti wine road – Siena & Assisi
Rome and the Vatican City
The Country of San Marino
San Marino is a small republic situated on the slopes of Mount Titano, entirely surrounded by Italy. It is one of the smallest independent states in Europe, after Vatican City and Monaco, but it has plenty to offer. In the case of the Republic of San Marino and its capital, the City of San Marino, size certainly doesn’t matter.
Perched on top of the mountain, overlooking the Adriatic Sea as well as the Emilia-Romagna and Le Marche regions, the old city and its views are simply stunning. Not to mention the castles of San Marino.
As I approached the Republic of San Marino, I could already see the famous Three Towers perched high on Mount Titano, dramatically clinging to the edge of the cliffs. My first thought was: How am I ever going to get up there?
…
The City of San Marino
The three defensive towers of the City of San Marino are its most iconic attraction. And yes, I made my way up there… by car!
Once at the top, I didn’t feel the need to buy tickets to explore the inside of each tower. Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed walking between them, soaking up the breathtaking views across the rolling hills of Italy. It was such a clear day that I could almost count the hilltop villages, each crowned with its own little church.
It was the perfect morning to be in the Republic of San Marino.
If my knee had been in better shape, I would have planned a hiking trip around the area. The trails looked absolutely incredible, and I’m sure it would have been an unforgettable experience. Maybe next time?
Travel Tip: Duty-free shopping is one of San Marino’s biggest attractions. However, as I visited in March during the off-season, many of the tourist shops were still closed. That didn’t bother me, though. I enjoyed a delicious plate of pasta for lunch before making my way back down the mountain and into Italy.
Afterword: Although San Marino is known for its duty-free shopping, the best duty-free shopping I’ve ever experienced was actually in Andorra, the tiny country nestled between France and Spain. Read: Visiting Andorra – What you need to know!
Between the City of San Marino and Venice
“How fun was that?! Visiting the Republic of San Marino in the morning, then returning to Italy a few hours later. All without having to show my passport. (Not that I have to show it at most borders in Europe anyway!)”
It is only a three-hour drive from the Republic of San Marino to Venice, but I still wanted to make a few more stops along the way. I was hoping to discover more idyllic historic towns, but most of the places along the Adriatic coast felt quite modern and, thanks to the flat coastline, lacked the dramatic scenery I had become used to.
Pescara was nothing special, and I stopped there only for an overnight stay. Rimini was a little disappointing too, and I ended up taking just one photo of its old city gate. I had been looking forward to Ravenna, but it was a cold and windy morning, which made it difficult to appreciate the city properly.
Apart from a lovely walk and a delicious lunch in Padua, I would say that the most impressive stop along the way was Chioggia.
The small city
Chioggia is a small seaside fishing town south of Venice. Thanks to its canals and narrow alleyways in the historic centre, it is often referred to as “Little Venice.” It was a charming town, perfect for a relaxed morning stroll and free from the hustle and bustle of its much bigger neighbour.
If you have some extra time during your travels, I highly recommend stopping here. Wander through the historic streets, browse the local market, and enjoy some delicious regional cuisine before continuing your journey.
Venice
After San Marino City, there was Venice. Venice is a city that appears on countless travel bucket lists. But is it really worth the hype?
I had been to Venice twice before, the last time more than 20 years ago. Strangely, I could barely remember either visit. Maybe the city simply hadn’t left a lasting impression. Or perhaps I just hadn’t experienced the right side of Venice back then.
How to get inside
Venice is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has streets but no roads for cars, only canals. So, I decided to arrive by train.
Parking in Venice can be quite expensive, but I found a more affordable car park (€15) at Venezia Mestre railway station. Trains to Venice Santa Lucia depart every few minutes, tickets are easy to buy, and cost less than €2. Before I knew it, I was in the heart of Venice. I didn’t have any particular plans for my visit. I simply wanted to wander, or rather zigzag, through the city’s narrow alleyways, over its countless bridges, and along its canals.
Of course, no visit to Venice is complete without seeing the famous Piazza San Marco. While you’re there, it’s definitely worth queuing to visit St. Mark’s Basilica. The magnificent Byzantine mosaics are breathtaking, and when I visited, the queue wasn’t too bad.
The canals
Although it was lovely to wander through the streets and canals of Venice once again, I wouldn’t rank it among my favourite cities. And after visiting quite a few cities over the past year, I have plenty to compare it with. That said, I completely understand why Venice is a must-visit destination. It is unlike anywhere else in the world, and I was genuinely excited to be back. And it is certainly very different to the Country of San Marino.
Being built on a lagoon, Venice is known for its distinctive smell during the hot summer months. The city also experiences seasonal flooding, which has taken its toll on many of the historic buildings. As a result, parts of Venice can look weathered and worn.
The canals and bridges certainly create a beautiful setting, especially on a sunny day, but I also noticed a lack of colour and cleanliness in some areas. Perhaps that’s inevitable in a city that has to contend with regular flooding. After all, why invest heavily in pristine exteriors when nature is bound to leave its mark again?
Although it was only March, Venice was already packed with tourists by lunchtime. That was my cue to leave the city and head back to the mainland. It had been a lovely morning, and who knows… maybe I’ll be back one day.
The Republic of San Marino was definitely the highlight of this trip for me.
Goodbye Italy and goodbye Venice
And so, after one final overnight stop along the way, it was time to head back to Germany.
Looking back, visiting the Republic of San Marino was without a doubt the highlight of my journey, and I can highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. It also had the best ice cream I tasted during my trip. And believe me, I sampled quite a few in Italy! So make sure you treat yourself to one when you visit.
(P.S. At the end of my trip, my car was full with Italian pasta, balsamic, parmesan cheese and wine of course… )
„If you can‘t get to Italy, take Italy with you.“
(post 92)
