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Three Towers of San Marino
圣马力诺三塔 · Monte Titano, San Marino
The three towers are the emblem of San Marino and appear on its flag and coat of arms: you can climb the oldest, Guaita, and the tallest, Cesta, while the smallest, Montale, can only be viewed from outside; the Witches' Passage linking the first two is the most atmospheric stretch of trail on the ridge.
Know before you go
- Do not climb Montale's walls or cross the fences
- do not crowd or push on the steep, narrow stairs
- do not lean out over the battlements to take photos on windy days
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
The Witches' Passage
The ridge path linking Guaita and Cesta is called the Witches' Passage. Local legend says that on full-moon nights witches gathered on the ridge of Monte Titano, which gave the path its name. Today the battlemented stone path is protected by railings and is a fine spot to look out over the plain below.
Source: SportOutdoor24: Guaita Fortress and the Witches' Passage (Italian)
Legend
The stonemason's republic
According to tradition, Marinus, a stonemason from the island of Rab in present-day Croatia, founded a small community on Monte Titano in AD 301, and the country takes its name from him. Accounts of him were first written down centuries after his lifetime, so the founding date is a tradition. San Marino claims to be the oldest extant sovereign state and the oldest constitutional republic in the world.
Source: Wikipedia: San Marino
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The three towers stand on the three peaks of Monte Titano, on which the City of San Marino sits. Guaita can be climbed for views toward the Adriatic; Cesta, on the highest summit, houses a museum of ancient weapons; Montale, on the smallest peak, can only be viewed from outside. Guaita and Cesta are linked by a battlemented ridge path, the Witches' Passage. The Historic Centre of San Marino and Mount Titano were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008 as evidence of the country's continuous self-government since the Middle Ages. Guaita was built in the 11th century and long served as a prison, until the 1970s; Cesta was built in the 13th century on the remains of a Roman fort and has housed a museum of ancient weapons since 1956; Montale was built in the 14th century and was also used as a prison, its only entrance a door about 7 meters above the ground, a common feature of prisons of the time.
Local customs
- From the old town, climb Guaita first, then follow the Witches' Passage to Cesta, climbing for the panorama and visiting the weapons museum
- continue along the ridge path to Montale for exterior photos
- after coming down, see the exterior of the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) on Piazza della Libertà, stop to watch the changing of the guard if it is taking place, and browse the souvenir shops on the old town's stone streets.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Do not climb Montale's walls or cross the fences
- do not crowd or push on the steep, narrow stairs
- do not lean out over the battlements to take photos on windy days
Locals appreciate DO
- Hold the handrails when climbing the towers
- wear non-slip shoes and bring a jacket
- watch your step on the ridge path
- keep quiet around the old town's churches and the Palazzo Pubblico
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Guaita and Cesta require tickets and a combined ticket is available
- prices and opening hours vary with the season, so check the official information
- Montale is not open to the public. The ridge is windy, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a jacket
- the stairs inside the towers are steep and narrow, so people with limited mobility should judge their ability.
- San Marino has no railway station
- visitors usually take a bus up from Rimini in Italy. The old town is best explored on foot, and cars must be left in car parks below or outside the old town. It takes about a quarter of an hour to walk from Guaita to Cesta. Spring to autumn is the best time to visit, and on clear days you can see the Adriatic
- summer is busy, so climb the towers in the morning
- in winter the mountain is windy and cold, so check official opening arrangements.
Photos
Photos
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Commonists · CC BY-SA 4.0
Commonists · CC BY-SA 4.0