Of San Marino and Fairy Tales

You're probably wondering why San Marino was not written in the style of the other posts in Italy. Well, for starters, despite the fact that it's located in the middle of Italy, that the citizens there speak Italian, and you don't need to go through passport control to get there, San Marino was a different world from Italy. A landlocked country and the smallest republic in the world, there was something almost mystical about the place. Rising above the surrounding countryside, it was as if you were rising about the world, simultaneously apart from it but at peace with it all the same.

Think of it like entering a fantasy world from the real world (the real world being the romantic canals of Venice, the artistic creativity of Florence, the historic ruins of Rome, and the wildness of Naples).

There were the aspects of a fairy tale world such as the picturesque village of the capital city, San Marino:

"Once upon a time, there lived in a certain village..."

The tree-lined, winding forest paths that were reminiscent of "Hansel and Gretel," or "Little Red Riding Hood."

"Over the river and through the woods..."

And three towers atop three high points on the mountainside which brings to mind the towers of "Sleeping Beauty" or "Rapunzel." This was one of the tower, the Cesta, the "yonder topmost tower" of San Marino.

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

All of this is located on a raised land mass, which made entering the county akin to entering another realm. The day we were there, the quietness of the place (primarily the capital city) and the mystical energy of the surrounding locale made it seem as if the city would be a beautiful place to retire after accomplishing one's life goals. The air was fresh and clean, free from pollution of the cars and mopeds, the wind was blowing lightly, and there was no city sounds to be heard as we walked through. In short: peaceful.

To spend the rest of your days in a serene, fairytale land would not be too bad at all, especially if every morning you woke up, you were greeted with views such as this:

"And they lived happily ever after."

And with this in my memory, I say goodbye to 12 amazing days in Italy, aware of the fact that parting is such sweet sorrow and that someday, I would like to return to learn more, soak in more art, more history, and more gelato. Until next time, ciao!

How to get to San Marino:

• Take a train into the coastal town of Rimini, the only place which can transport you to San Marino (or to save time, stay in the city overnight, the draft from the sea is not unlike Southern California).
• Hitch a bus to San Marino, which is just next door and very easy to spot. Enjoy the view...