Story
The story of Monte Titano
Seen from the Po Plain, this mountain apparently looks like a hex key, which is why Italians often call it Monte Brugola. Monte Titano rises 739 metres above sea level and is the highest point in San Marino, though the rocky outcrop itself is at most about 200 metres high. Long ago, in the Tertiary era, this whole area lay under the sea.
Violent earthquakes lifted a mass of rock and slid it slowly towards the Adriatic, giving rise to several mountains, this one among them. That is why the fossils found on its slopes come mostly from sea creatures, above all shark teeth, and even a whale. The mountain has three peaks, each crowned by a tower, the Guaita, the Cesta and the Montale, and these towers appear on the national flag.
Since 2008, the mountain and the historic centre have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, witnessing the continuity of a free republic since the Middle Ages.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of Monte Titano is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
12 more stories from San Marino in the app
More highlights in San Marino
- Chiesa di San PietroChiesa di San Pietro (San Marino) is a church in San Marino. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro.
- Sammarinese Museum of Ancient ArmsSammarinese Museum of Ancient Arms (Museo delle armi antiche di San Marino in Italian) is located in the Cesta, the second tower of San Marino. The museum opened in 1956 due to agreement with Sammarinese collector Giovanni Carlo Giorgetti.
- Palazzo PubblicoThe Palazzo Pubblico is the city hall of the City of San Marino.
- Porta San FrancescoHistoric city gate and former guard post in the City of San Marino, built in 1361 and substantially rebuilt in 1451.
- MontaleThe Montale is one of three towered peaks overlooking the city of San Marino, the capital of San Marino. The other two are the Guaita and the Cesta.
- GuaitaThe Guaita, also known as the Rocca is one of three towered peaks overlooking the city of San Marino, the capital of San Marino. The other two are Cesta and Montale.