Why You Should Stay the Night in San Marino

San Marino, a tiny microstate surrounded on all sides Italy, has a problem it wants to fix: the majority of people who visit come only for the day. It's trying to encourage overnight visitors by offering an overnight-only guest card that gives discounts at its main attractions and even some shops. But aside from that, here's why I strongly recommend an overnight stay in San Marino.

1. You can stay in a beautiful old building. We stayed at Moda Antica Dimora, a guesthouse with beautiful frescoed ceilings in all the rooms. It's not right in the old town of San Marino, but it's only a ten-minute drive away in a quiet village with great views of the Three Towers.

2. The Three Towers. I'm certain everyone who comes to San Marino visits the Three Towers - they're so important they appear on the microstate's flag. If you stay overnight, though, you can get to see them before the day-tripper crowds flood in, and stay for as long as you like!

One of the Three Towers

3. Sunset. A beautiful place to watch the sunset in San Marino is from Piazza della Liberta, beside to Palazzo Pubblico.

4. Aperitivo. Once the day-trippers have gone and the sun has set, it's time for aperitivo! Our favourite thing about Italy, we spent an hour hopping from bar to bar, drinking wine and snacking on the complimentary finger-food that comes with it.

Piazza della Liberta

5. Wander the streets at night. The medieval streets are beautifully lit at night and wonderfully quiet. A walk around them is, honestly, up there in terms of romantic things to do!