San Marino Arts and Architecture

There are many beautiful attractions in San Marino, Italy. This section of our website will showcase some of these attractions and will help you to plan out your San Marino vacation.

Places worth visiting in San Marino are the Government Palace, the Basilica, the State Museum and Art Gallery, St Francis' Church, which also has a museum and art gallery, the Capuccin Friars Church of St Quirino, and the Exhibition of San Marino Handicrafts. We have gone into a little more detail below on some of the most popular attractions in San Marino. As always, if you have something to add, please contact us.

Museo di Auto d'Epoca

If you enjoy looking at cars, both old and new, then the Museo di Auto d'Epoca is for you!

Palazzo Publico

The Palazzo Publico is situated on the site of the old Domus Communis Magna, or Large Communal House, with good estimates determining that construction was somewhere in between 1380 and 1392.

Chiesa di San Francesco

Founded in 1361, and added in whole to the Grey Friars convent, the Chiesa di San Francesco is the oldest building in the republic of San Marino. It has suffered the wrath of numerous dodgey repair jobs and a few unsympathetic restorations, but the front of the building and the porch have been restored to the original line of its original builder, Gino Zani.

Chiesa San Pietro

Situated just on the right of the Basilica del Santo is the tiny little church of San Pietro. This little church was 'only' built at the beginning of the 19th century. As late as 1914, a crypt was built underneath the church to conserve the urn in which the bones of the Saint are resting. This church is a great reminder of why San Marino is truly a place filled of history.

La Rocca

La Rocca is more properly known as the Guaita, or First Tower. This building dates back to the 11th century, although it was touched up a few times during the 19th and 20th centuries. The structure was chipped straight out of the stone surface without recourse to foundations, and promptly pressed into service as a guard tower and refuge post.