HISTORY:
The history of the Republic starts in the year 301 A.D. In the Republic of San Marino the cult of the Saint, the legendary founder of the Republic, is widespread and sincere. Indeed, it is this legend that has handed down to us the figure of Marino, the stonemason, arriving from the island of Arbe in Dalmatia, rising Mt. Titano to found a small community of Christians, persecuted for their faith by the Emperor Diocletian.
The area is known to have been inhabited since prehistoric times but only in the Middle Ages do we have news of the existence of a Monastery, a Parish and a Castle, together confirming the existence of an organized community at the peak of Mt. Titan.
Traditional History:
Thousands of years of tradition in an ancient medieval town.
In San Marino the evocative traditions are based on authentic, documented history which saw the ancient standard raised, the sound of the clarions blaring and the cross-bows taking aim, never attacking, but ever defending ancient freedoms.
Every year for a full week the various districts of the historic centre undergo a metamorphosis; the multi-coloured daytime tourist paths become a sort of evening living theatre where the actors are a series of parading processions, creating a climate of colours, notes and emotions.
Between the rolls of the drums and the blare of the trumpets, more than five hundred people in splendid historic costumes, picturesque processions, multi-coloured standards and flag waving offer highly suggestive moments, quite spectacular and set on the suggestive background of the Cava dei Balestrieri.
Musicians, street players, jugglers and acrobats engage the public in the fun of itinerant performances.
Celebration of the medieval tradition sings the praises of the typical culinary traditions of the foods of the past. For the entire period of the manifestation, for those who desire it, restaurants in the centre offer delectable menus inspired by ancient recipes, deliberately drawn from accurate, in-depth historic research, reworking in a modern key the fruits of our ancestors' imaginations.
The medieval market, seething with dim lights and a warm atmosphere, is a wonderful setting where shops selling Ancient Crafts show off the artistry and creativity of ancient traditions, the uses and customs that modern times have nearly wiped away.
Besides evoking the aura of ancient times with spectacular staged events and providing the opportunity to relive the most ancient traditions of the San Marino history, the 'Medieval Days' are the most breathlessly awaited appointment on the calendar of events organized by the Republic of San Marino.The Federazione Balestrieri Sammarinese (the San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation) was founded in 1956 thanks to the desire and resolve of its Chairman and Founder, Prof. Giuseppe Rossi. With each representation this organization revives an ancient right, intimately linked to the defense of country, city, home and hearth against threatened loss of freedom.
In times long past, it was the crossbowmen who defended the city walls-and the freedom-of the Republic of San Marino. Special arrangement compelled the Captains Regent to provide the Crossbowmen with new crossbows and new arrows when necessary. To ensure that the Crossbowmen were quite adept in use of their arms, the Statues, Ledger XXXVIII, established that once a year, on the 3rd of September, a festival dedicated to the Founding Saint Marino would be celebrated with the 'Palio delle balestre grandi' (Grand Crossbow Palio).
The competition served a double purpose: to honour St. Marino and to ensure that the Crossbowmen kept their arms in good repair by competing with one another.
This tradition has come down to us today; The 'Palio' has been augment and today costumed figures, musicians and flag-wavers to complete the pageantry of the crossbow competition. ^ Travel Tip
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San Marino History 