Not-To-Be-Missed Stages and Niche Villages

Start the day off on the right foot with a walk to the central Piazza Grande, the lively heart of the city and chosen by Roberto Benigni for many scenes in the famous film "Life is Beautiful".
The square, with its characteristic irregular shape because it was built on sloping ground, is home to several admirable buildings dating back to different eras, among which the Palazzo delle Logge, with its splendid portico, commissioned by Giorgio Vasari, certainly stands out.
Piazza Grande is particularly lively in June and September, when it becomes the scene of the traditional Giostra del Saracino, a historical event that re-enacts the ancient chivalric competition of the Middle Ages, during which the four quarters of the city compete on horseback to win the Golden Lance.
In addition, on the first weekend of each month (Saturday and Sunday), the very popular Antiques Fair takes place in the square and the central streets, whose first edition dates back to 1968 and is now one of the most important in Italy.

Don't miss a visit to the Basilica of San Francesco, where you can admire a marvellous cycle of frescoes by Piero della Francesca, located in the Bacci Chapel.
The Chapel can only be visited with prior booking and each visit can last a maximum of 30 minutes.
Access is permitted from Monday to Friday from 09:00 am to 7:00 pm, on Saturdays from 09:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm (during morning hours there is an interruption from 10:30 am to 11:00 am for Mass). Closed on: every Wednesday, 1st January and 25th December.
For more information and bookings visit the website.

Say goodbye to Arezzo with a stop in the religious heart of the city, with a visit inside the Duomo.
The large stained-glass windows and, above all, the marvellous works of art, including "La Maddalena" by Piero della Francesca, will give you the impression of being in a place suspended in time.

Retrieve your car and head for the next surprising destination of your road trip.

Park your car here to avoid getting caught up in the narrow streets of this small village.

Pennabilli is one of the highlights of this road trip. Still virtually ignored by the main tourist routes, it is instead a village that surprises at first glance with its details and noteworthy attractions.
The Garden of Forgotten Fruits is one of the "Places of the Soul", an open-air museum created by the writer and poet Tonino Guerra, with the aim of stimulating the curiosity and imagination of visitors, precisely by tickling their souls.
Start right here on your itinerary in this curious village and walk slowly through the various art works scattered in the different thematic areas.
You will also find two sundials, from which a path leads into the historical centre of Pennabilli.
The installations, most of which are outdoors, can be visited free of charge every day from 09:00 to 19:00.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit an unknown Emilian village in such an entertaining and original way.
For more information on the various Places of the Soul visit the website.

An unavoidable stop in Pennabilli is this Osteria, where everything harks back to the territory.
Laura and Fabrizio will make you feel at home, in a warm and welcoming environment while you savour genuine traditional dishes, skilfully prepared day by day with local products.
Let yourself be seduced by the "cascioni" of Romagna or by handmade pasta as in the past: after this lunch, Pennabilli is sure to become one of your favourite places.
The restaurant is open daily (except Tuesdays) from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am.

Pop into the world's smallest museum, housing only one painting!
In the former Cappellina dei Caduti (Chapel of the Fallen) you can see "The angel with a mustache", a painting inspired by a story by Tonino Guerra, transcribed on the chapel walls.
A moving place in its simplicity, truly representative of Pennabilli's soul.
The museum is always open and can be visited freely.

With your eyes and heart filled with the fantastical atmosphere of Pennabilli, get into your car and drive through Emilia Romagna to your next destination.

Get to San Marino, anticipating the view already from the road, and leave your car in this large multi-level car park, conveniently connected to the historic centre by lifts.

Pass through this 1361 gate, the official access route to the city, and take a dip into the past by immersing yourself in the chivalrous atmosphere of San Marino.
You may be curious to know that the City of San Marino and Mount Titano, which towers above it, have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site as "testimony to the continuity of a free republic since the 13th century".

The first stop to discover the city can only be this square, where you will see the Statue of Liberty (that's right, it's named after the one in New York!), a statue in white Carrara marble that is also depicted on San Marino's 2-cent coins. The square is perfect during fine weather for its belvedere, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding hills.

The Palazzo Pubblico, although not particularly majestic, is certainly worth a visit for the fascination it exerts: it is in fact the heart of political life, here the fate of the entire State of San Marino is decided, and consequently it is one of the fundamental stops to get to know this enclave better.
The Palazzo Pubblico, although not particularly majestic, is certainly worth a visit for the fascination it exerts: it is in fact the heart of political life, here the fate of the entire State of San Marino is decided, and consequently it is one of the fundamental stops to get to know this enclave better.
The Palazzo can be visited from the 6th of June to the 4th of September from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm; while from the 2nd of January to the 5th of June and from the 5th of September to the 31st of December from 9 am to 5 pm.
If you are here between May and September, don't miss the traditional changing of the guard in front of the Public Palace, overlooking the square, which takes place every hour between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm.
You can find more information and buy tickets at the website.

The Basilica, with its imposing façade and neoclassical interior, is worth a visit for its religious importance within the country: it houses the relics of San Marino, the founder of the San Marino community.
The Basilica is depicted on San Marino 10-cent coins.

If you want to enjoy your visit to San Marino from a different point of view, do not miss the route that will lead you to the Guaita Tower: this, together with Torre Cesta and Torre del Montale, is one of the three symbolic "pens" of Mount Titano, on which they are erected as bulwarks in defence of freedom, sacred to San Marino citizens.
The First Tower is the major and oldest (dating back to the 11th century) and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city from above.
It can also be visited inside from the 2nd of January to the 6th of June from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, from the 7th of June to the 5th of September from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm and from the 6th of September to the 31st of December from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
More information on the official website.

The Second Tower stands at 755 metres above sea level on the highest peak of Mount Titan and was already used as a watchtower in Roman times.
Enjoy the splendid itinerary that connects the two towers, with unparalleled views, especially at the end of the day.
This tower can also be visited on the same days and times as the First and there is the possibility of purchasing a combined ticket.
More information on the official website.

Say goodbye to the medieval atmosphere of San Marino and retrieve your car for the last stretch of your road trip.

For dinner, you have no choice but to stop in Forlimpopoli, a municipality in Emilia that you will find on your way back.
The town is in fact famous for being the birthplace of Pellegrino Artusi, a famous Italian writer and gastronome, author of the famous culinary manual "Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well", which in 1931 was one of the most widely read books by Italians, along with "The Betrothed" and "Pinocchio".
At the Osteria San Nicola, housed in a former deconsecrated church, you will find traditional dishes and Artusi's recipes, in what they call "an encounter between tradition and simplicity": the perfect way to end this very Italian gastronomic and cultural itinerary.
The restaurant is open Tuesday to Friday for dinner from 19:00 to 22:30, Saturday and Sunday also for lunch from 12:00 to 14:30 and it is closed on Mondays.

After dinner, before getting back in the car, treat yourself to a last stroll through the historical centre of Forlimpopoli, dominated by the Rocca Albornoziana, dating back to the second half of the 14th century and one of the best preserved in Romagna: a suggestive view, illuminated at night, to round off the day. If you are here in the second half of June, you are likely to come across the "Festa Artusiana", a nine-day festival that every year pays homage to Forlimpopoli's most famous citizen with a mix of flavours, fragrances and entertainment.