Monday July 25, 2005, 53 km (33 miles) – Total so far: 6,777 km (4,211 miles)
We had a short ride down the coast passing some fairly ghastly Italian beach resorts with private sun-beds and cheap hotels lining either side of the road. Rimini itself was nice with the centre sporting evidence of a Roman past. Then we had a 700 meter climb to one of, if not actually, Europe’s smallest country: San Marino.
San Marino has a beautiful old centre surrounded by ancient castles and medieval fortifications. Quite how San Marino remains a separate country is still something of a mystery; and the tourist information brochure we picked up is a little vague, however, it all adds to the charm of the place.
San Marino has its own stamps and even a separate currency (although its main currency is the Euro). We’re camping in a surprisingly quiet site just below the city on terraces overlooking a distant sea, very tranquil.