I am planning on driving from Siena to Ravenna and noticed I would not pass far from San Marino. It would be about an one hour detour. I looked up San Marino on the web (nothing in Rick's books) and the only reason to go there seems to be shopping. Any input on if this is a worth while detour?
Of course, I may go there and make it a lunch stop just to say I had been there!
I think San Marino is well worth a detour for at least a few hours' visit, and certainly not for the shopping. The Republic of San Marino was founded in 301 AD, therefore it has some historic sights to see, plus it's a pretty medieval town.
Read up on the place before going. It has an interesting history.
The panoramic view from the mountain peak is spectacular on a sunny day. Getting up there can be stressful, especially the parking. San Marino is a duty-free shop that thinks it's a country but a history of sneaking around bigger governments, long before the days of sales taxes, does evoke a certain dodgy intrigue. Restaurant prices rise as you climb the citadel.
Rick does not cover San Marino in his books, but he does cover it in his TV show about Europe's micro countries. Those in the US can watch it free on Hulu (the San Marino section starts at about 8:25): http://www.hulu.com/watch/102476
