D.C. Some three million visitors descend upon San Marino every year, alighting from tour buses to jam the streets of the old town while shopping for commemorative postage stamps and other souvenirs. In contrast, the resident population is less than 5,000 in the capital and 25,000 for the country as a whole. The stranger you accidentally nudge with your video camera is as likely to speak German, Italian, or English as the local Sammarinese dialect. Sightseeing San Marino's three fortresses are worth a visit. The castles are perched along the cliffs of Monte Titano, where they offer panoramic views of the local countryside, the Italian resort of Rimini, and the Adriatic coast.
Special events are another draw.
The San Marino Grand Prix brings Formula 1 car racers and fans to nearby Imola, Italy in late April. During July, the capital celebrates Medieval Days with a week's worth of processions, crossbow competitions, historic games, nightly feasts, and other activities. See page 2 for Web links. By car, leave the A14 autostrada at the Rimini-Sud exit and follow the highway to San Marino. By railroad, take the train from Rimini to San Marino.