The State Museum of San Marino (Musei di Stato) is a showcase of historic and artistic items linked to San Marino’s centuries-old heritage. The museum was established in the 1800s following a series of donations from home and abroad. Today, the State Museum of San Marino holds a collection of about 5,000 artifacts. Find displays of antique coins, ceramics, relics from ancient civilizations and work by much-admired Italian artists.
The museum’s exhibits cover several floors of the Palazzo Pergami Belluzzi. The first floor focuses on San Marino archaeology and highlights a history that dates back to the Stone Age. See pottery excavated at an 8th-century B.C. Villanovan settlement and Roman-era statuettes. Check out regal jewelry pieces belonging to the Domagnano Treasures and remnants from the city’s original basilica.
Go to the second floor to discover important works of art, many of which once adorned the city’s civic and religious landmarks. Among these are paintings from the Monastery of St. Chiara and work by the Italian baroque painter Guercino. Admire the images of San Marino’s two patron saints, St. Marino and St. Agata. There are also medieval and Renaissance-era paintings donated by Gaetano Spelluzzi.
The museum’s upper floor is dedicated to donations from around the world. These include 13th-century Limoges porcelain, 18th-century French ceramics and Tiburzio Passerotti’s Ritratto di gentiluomo (Portrait of a Gentleman).
Don’t miss the worldwide archaeological collections located in the museum’s basement. Spot Cypriot earthenware and Egyptian funerary figurines in addition to ornamental Etruscan and Italiote vases. Here, you can also see displays of precious coins and medals minted between 1864 and 1939.
The museum sits on Piazza di Titano. It’s a short walk from other major attractions such as Liberty Square and the Palazzo Pubblico.
The State Museum of San Marino is open daily, except for select public holidays, and has an admission fee. It’s worth purchasing a combined ticket, which is valid for several museums and the majestic towers perched atop Mount Titano. Find full details on the museum’s official website.
