San Marino Presentation

Towers of San Marino

Guaita, Cesta and the Montale Tower are the three "pinnacles", symbol of Mount Titano, defensive bulwarks of the liberty, so sacred to the San Marino population.

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino

Size : 61 km2 (One of the European microstates)

Is the oldest recorded sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world

Foundation: 3 September 301 by stonecutter Marinus of Rab

Mountain Titano

It's 749 m high and it's belongs to the Apennines.

The mountain has three peaks; on each is one of the The Three Towers of San Marino.

Guaita Rocca

It was built directly on the rock with no foundation with a pentagonal base in tenth century.

It has, however, been reinforced many times in the past.

It took on its present configuration during the second half of the XV century and in the XVI century it was covered with a gabled roof.

Within its solid walls, protected by double walls (the external wall with merlons and truncated towers at the corners), the population found refuge during sieges.

Some parts of the tower were used as prisons up till October, 1970.

The internal wall stops at the Bell Tower on one side and the Pinnacle Tower on the other; these elements were built centuries later.

The upper entrance door, which can be reached by a staircase, is protected by a small wooden construction of 1481

Cesta Castle (Fratta)

It stands on the second, and highest pinnacle of Mount Titano, 756 meters high.

Built at the end of the XI century, this too has a pentagonal floor plan.

It housed the Fortification Guards Division as well as some prison cells. Around the end of the XVI century, when the tower was no longer of strategic importance, it fell into disuse.

In 1930, as a result of the construction of the Rimini - San Marino railway, it was decided to restorate the medieval monuments in order to stimulate turism.

Today the Cesta Tower houses the Museum of Archaic Arms, which contains approximately 535 pieces all dating...