PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Annotation

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday.

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

Overview

Customs union with Italy. No import and export restrictions. For more information see Italy.

SHOP

Overview

According to top-mba-universities, the old town with its narrow streets, in which small shops, boutiques and souvenir shops line up, invites you to go shopping. Popular souvenirs are ceramics, wines, liqueurs, jewelry, leather goods and playing cards. The small state issues its own postage stamps, which are very popular with philatelists.

Many day-trippers come from nearby Rimini to do their shopping, as San Marino is a true shoppers’ paradise. Since hardly any taxes are levied, many goods are available much cheaper than in other European countries. The price advantage is particularly noticeable when buying branded clothing, shoes, homeopathic medicines, household and electronic devices, musical instruments, watches, perfume and cosmetics.

There are several modern shopping centers, especially the Azzurro (Internet: www.centroazzurro.sm), which also has a supermarket, and the elegant Atlante (Internet: www.centroatlante.com). In the Atlante there is also the famous music and instrument shop Baldacci (Internet: www.marinobaldacci.com), where professional musicians and amateurs from all over Italy buy their instruments. A popular destination for bargain hunters are the two outlet stores, the San Marino Factory Outlet (Internet: www.smfactoryoutlet.com) in Rovereta and the Queen Outletin Dogana, where you can find branded clothing at affordable prices. A large selection of household and electrical appliances can be found in the Electronics Shopping Center (Internet: www.electronics.sm).

Opening hours

Mon-Sat 8.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.-7.30 p.m. Some shops are also open on Sundays.

NIGHTLIFE

Introduction

You won’t find any trendy nightclubs or hip discos in San Marino. But there is almost always something going on here, especially in the summer months, when numerous folk festivals and festivals provide entertainment. Probably the most famous festival is the Ethnofestival, which takes place every year in July, a medieval folklore festival at which one can admire, among other things, flag bearers and waving flags as well as archers in historical costumes. At the end of August, in honor of the founder of the state Marinus, who died on September 3, 301, the Medieval Days take place, during which the famous crossbowmen of San Marino can be seen. In the run-up to Christmas, a fairytale Christmas market enchants its visitors.

Several theaters, some of which also feature film screenings and revues, provide a cultural entertainment program. There is also a bowling alley and a bingo hall in Serravalle.

When no festival or theater performance is noted in the calendar of events, you usually enjoy the evening with a good meal in one of the many good restaurants or treat yourself to a glass of wine in one of the numerous bars and pubs. And if you are looking for a livelier nightlife, take a trip to the nearby Rimini, which has become known as the party town on the Riviera. Here you can celebrate the mild summer nights in a number of clubs, bars and discos seven evenings a week.

CULINARY

Regional specialities

Delicious starters are tortellini, passatelle (broth), tagliatelle, lasagne, ravioli, cannelloni and fornaria (pizza dough with olive oil, coarse salt and rosemary, sometimes also with prosciutto crudo).

Recommended main dishes are roast rabbit with fennel, spicy poultry, quail, veal schnitzel, faggioli con le cotiche (dark bean soup with bacon), pasta e cece (soup with noodles, chickpeas, garlic and rosemary), nidi di rondine (fried noodles with Ham, beef and cheese).

Popular desserts are cacciatello (a dessert made from egg, milk and sugar, very similar to the popular French crème caramel) and crostata (cake filled with orange jam; also known as San Marino cake). Bustrengo is an apple cake made from cornmeal with olive oil, figs and raisins.

Tip

A service fee is usually included in the bill, but a small tip of around 10% is still common.

Regional drinks

Excellent wines are made in San Marino, with Muscat, Biancale, Albana and Sangiovese among the most popular. Mistra is a local liqueur.

Minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages

In San Marino you can drink alcohol from the age of 16.