The wonderful thing about not knowing exactly where you want to go is that you end up in places you've never ever dreamed of visiting.
Like the 'Most Serene Republic of San Marino'.
We had scraps of knowledge about San Marino: somewhere in Italy there was supposed to be a very old and very small Republic with its own (tiny) army and its own (very much sought after) Euro coins and it's somewhere --- hey, look, it's just south of Ravenna, let's go there!
So we left Ravenna and headed south to the popular seaside city of Rimini. We circumvented the more interesting parts - that is, we followed the road through a nondescript industrial zone - when we suddenly spotted a small signpost pointing to San Marino.
Following the sign we turned right at a shabby intersection and drove into the hills - where the part of Italy we had travelled so far had been dotted with roundabouts, this road had traffic lights that forced us to stop for a very (very) long time every couple of hundred metres. Not that there was much crossing traffic - in the end we suspected the Italians of thus preventing visitors to go to San Marino at all.
Finally the traffic lights ended and the hairpins started.
It took quite some time to climb the steep rock but in the end the last hairpin delivered us in front of our hotel - and we looked out over a magnificent countryside. Breathtaking views - we were really high up now and could look all the way to - well, as far as Firenze, had the weather been clear.
We stayed there for one night, and although we thoroughly enjoyed the views - from our balcony, yes! - we left San Marino slightly downcast.
Like the 'Most Serene Republic of San Marino'.
We had scraps of knowledge about San Marino: somewhere in Italy there was supposed to be a very old and very small Republic with its own (tiny) army and its own (very much sought after) Euro coins and it's somewhere --- hey, look, it's just south of Ravenna, let's go there!
So we left Ravenna and headed south to the popular seaside city of Rimini. We circumvented the more interesting parts - that is, we followed the road through a nondescript industrial zone - when we suddenly spotted a small signpost pointing to San Marino.
Following the sign we turned right at a shabby intersection and drove into the hills - where the part of Italy we had travelled so far had been dotted with roundabouts, this road had traffic lights that forced us to stop for a very (very) long time every couple of hundred metres. Not that there was much crossing traffic - in the end we suspected the Italians of thus preventing visitors to go to San Marino at all.
Finally the traffic lights ended and the hairpins started.
It took quite some time to climb the steep rock but in the end the last hairpin delivered us in front of our hotel - and we looked out over a magnificent countryside. Breathtaking views - we were really high up now and could look all the way to - well, as far as Firenze, had the weather been clear.
We stayed there for one night, and although we thoroughly enjoyed the views - from our balcony, yes! - we left San Marino slightly downcast.
San Marino is duty free. The most ancient and interesting part of San Marino is crammed with rows and rows of shops and stalls that urge you to buy perfumes, liquor, watches, cigarettes, and cheap souvenirs. Like any departure area of any airport, yes.
Forget about the duty free part of San Marino, as we did. Enjoy the pictures of a huge rock between the Adriatic and the Apennine mountains and see the views from (and of) the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, 61 km2, the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world, founded in 301 AD. Again deep time.
Anno 2015 it's one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GPD per capital, with a highly stable economy (in the middle of Italy!), one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, a nonational debt and a budget surplus. And it's the only country with more vehicles than people - no wonder, with all the hairpins...
Anno 2015 it's one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GPD per capital, with a highly stable economy (in the middle of Italy!), one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, a nonational debt and a budget surplus. And it's the only country with more vehicles than people - no wonder, with all the hairpins...
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