San Marino is a small country, surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy. Its full name sounds like "The Most Serene Republic of San Marino". Unusually, but the state, which has retained its independence in the center of Italy, can not be ordinary. It enjoys great popularity among tourists, because, having got on its territory, you make a move into the past: mighty ancient castles and fortresses, beautiful nature and surroundings. But what's more interesting - in this small state there are a huge number of museums, and many of them are unique.
The State Museum
The State Museum of San Marino was opened in the late 19th century thanks to donations from citizens. The museum is divided into several parts: archeology, numismatics, art. It is located on Via Pietzetta Titan, next to the church of San Francesco and the main entrance to the city.
The museum has collected nearly five thousand exhibits related to the history of this state, they carefully collected from 1865 to the present. Here there are many artifacts found by archaeologists, and they belong to different epochs, beginning with the Neolithic and ending with the Middle Ages. Also there are interesting works of art, so in the museum you can enjoy the sculptures and paintings of Pompeo Batoni, Stefano Galletti and others. Numismatists will be interested in various coins and medals. Visiting the museum, you can learn the legends and the history of this unusual republic.
The building of this museum is located in the palace of Pergami and includes the Pinakotheque of San Francesco, the Gallery of Modern Art .
Helpful information:
- Address: Piazza del Titano, 1, San Marino, San Marino
- Phone: +378 0549 883835
- Opening hours: 9.00 -17.00, from 12 June to 17 September 8.00 - 20.00
- Entrance: € 3,00, children € 1,50, children under 5 years old admission is free.
The Pinacoteca of San Francesco
The basis of the entire collection of the National Pinakothek are the exhibits collected by the abbot Giuseppe Chakkery, which he collected from the end of the 18th century. Subsequently, representatives of many noble families of Siena brought other works in the gift of the Pinakothek, and now it includes the canvasses of the Sienese painters from the 13th to 17th centuries.
An interesting architectural complex, in which the Pinakothek is located, was founded in the 14th century. Over the centuries, the building has undergone changes, but still the exterior walls retain their primordial appearance in some places.
The museum has an art gallery and a section of art. Here the legacy of the monastery and the Franciscan churches is demonstrated, among the exhibits there are paintings on canvas and wood, vestments and furniture of the 14th and 18th centuries, very valuable frescoes from the church that are nearby. In two rooms that adjoin the museum, there is a collection dedicated to Emilio Ambron.
Helpful information:
- Address: Via Basilicius
- Phone: +378 0549 885132
- Admission: € 3,00, children € 1,50
Gallery of Modern Art
The gallery of contemporary art presents works from the beginning of the 20th century to our days. The exposition has more than 750 copies.
The history of creation is as follows. In 1956, the Biennale of San Marino was opened, and the first exhibition included works by more than five hundred artists. The member of the jury was the famous master Renato Guttuso. The exhibition was a success, and it was visited by more than one hundred thousand spectators. The next exhibition took place two years later, and then a permanent site was created.
For a time, the Biennale was limited only to famous artists, but in the 21st century, the works of contemporary artists began to be popularized. And now there are small personal exhibitions here every year.
Helpful information:
- Address: Via Eguippo
- Working hours: January 2 - June 7: 9:00 - 17:00, June 8 - September 13: 8:00 - 20:00, September 14 - December 31: 9:00 - 17:00.
- Admission: € 3,00, children € 1,50
Museum of Reptiles (Aquarium)
San Marino is famous for its museums and you can visit very unusual museums. For example, in the heart of the old part of the city of San Marino you can find a huge number of exotic and unusually bright reptiles. This museum attracts more and more tourists every year.
The museum of reptiles or "Aquarium" , as it is called, can serve as an excellent place for spending time with the whole family. After all, only here you can become part of the magical world of incredible fish and reptiles. Both adults and children will be interested in information on how to maintain, feed and care for such unusual creatures.
Here, in a small area, you can get acquainted with snakes, salamanders and crocodiles. The museum also has turtles and iguanas, and spiders are represented for exotic lovers. Tropical seas are represented by bright fish, in the museum you can see moray eels and piranhas. Those who love reptiles and fish will have great pleasure visiting such a museum. It will also be of interest to people who professionally explore this area.
Helpful information:
- Address: San Marino, Via Paolo III, 5;
- Phone: +378 0549 992010
- Opening hours: March-October: 9.00 - 19.00, November-February: Fridays, Sundays and public holidays 10.00 - 17.30
- Entrance: € 6,00, children from 4 to 11 years old € 4,00
The Wax Museum
The Wax Museum presents historically accurate reconstructions of forty scenes, it also contains more than a hundred characters, made of wax. One of the sections of the museum is devoted to the instruments of torture that existed at all times.
This museum is one of the most popular museums in the country. And this is not surprising, since all the events and figures are depicted with incredible accuracy.
Helpful information:
- Address: Via Lapicidi Marini, 17, San Marino
- Phone: (0549) 992940
- Fax: (0549) 992940
- E-mail: info@museodellecerersm.com
- Web: www.museodellecerersm.com
- Opening hours: March-October: 9.30 - 12.30 and 14.00 - 17.30, April-June, September: 08.30 - 18.30, July, August: 08.30 - 20.00
- Entrance: € 6,00, children from 4 to 10 years old € 4,00
Museum of Curiosities
The curiosity museum in San Marino is a very funny museum. It contains exhibits of various funny life situations. But, as the curators of the museum say, they are all true.
The museum is famous for its large collection of artifacts brought from different parts of the world, and is rightfully considered one of the most interesting in the country. Most items belonging to different epochs are really real, although often it is almost impossible to believe it. But here you can stand next to the man who was the highest in the world, his growth was almost three meters. Next, just an incredible feeling of its miniature will give you a neighborhood with the world's thickest person, its weight was 639 kg. And, apparently for the contrast, next to a girl whose waist is very thin. Among the other exhibits you can see a lot of unusual people. These are small dwarfs, and a man who let go of the longest nails.
The museum also has a zoological exposition where you can see just a huge three-meter-long cancer and an egg 80 cm high, which belonged to a prehistoric bird. Also here there are funny mousetraps and blockers. And modern fashionistas will certainly be discouraged by hairdos made in the form of ships and locks. As you can see, this museum will be interesting for everyone.
Helpful information:
- Address: San Marino, Salita alla Rocca, 26
- Phone: +378 0549 992437
- Website: www.museodellecuriosita.sm
- Working hours: daily: 10.00 - 18.00, July, August: 09.00 - 20.00
- Admission: € 7,00, children € 4,00
Museum of Torture
The Torture Museum in San Marino presents a trembling collection of instruments of torture that were used in the Middle Ages. In its exposition more than a hundred such instruments are collected. This museum is very unusual, but not every tourist wants to visit it. The brave will be interested in spending time in it, since its exhibits are a rarity. Among them there are incredible, and it is often hard to believe that people came up with this in order to mock their own kind. Here you can see the infamous "Iron Girl", the Inquisitor's chair and many other exhibits for brutal torture.
Perhaps, at first glance, the exhibits and seem harmless, but only until you read the instructions for use. In the museum next to each exhibit there is a sign with a detailed description. Some of these tools are genuine, but some were made according to the surviving drawings.
There is such an unusual and eerie museum in San Marino.
Helpful information:
- Address: Old City Center, Porta San Francesco side
- Phone: +378 0549 991215
- Opening hours: January, February: 10.00 - 18.00, March-December (except August): 10.00 - 19.00, August: 10.00 - 20.00
- Entrance: € 8,00, children from 4 to 10 years old € 6,00
The Vampire Museum
For fans of horror and mysticism, the Vampire Museum in San Marino will be of great interest. It is located in the center of the republic, and the entrance to it is guarded by a werewolf. And this, perhaps, is the sweetest creature of all who can be found here. After all, in the dark rooms of the museum, decorated in red and black, visitors are waiting Count Dracula and Countess Bathory. In the semi-darkness of the museum halls, the exposition looks particularly scary. Here is the place for all night fears and nightmares to come alive, and outward all phobias got out.
Among the exhibits is a coffin with the remains of a real vampire. And for protection against evil spirits real artifacts are presented. These are all kinds of amulets, garlic bunches, silverware. They especially want to take advantage of when from all corners of the museum all sorts of sorcerers, vampires, monsters and ghosts peep out.
Helpful information:
- Address: Sala Espositiva Nido del Falco, Contrada dei Magazzeni, Repubblica di San Marino
- Phone: +378 (0549) 991215
- Admission: € 15,00
- Souvenirs: the museum has a shop where you can buy souvenirs with vampire themes.