Friday, February 1, 2013

San Marino with the Elders

Last Wednesday on the Elders preparation day we went with them to San Marino.  By tradition, San Marino was founded in 301 AD by a Christian stonemason named Marino.  He fled religious persecution to live on the top of Mt. Titano.  He was later made a saint and the country was named after him.  It became a republic in 1243 and remains a republic today, the oldest one in the world.  A simple definition of a republic is where it's leaders are appointed or elected and it is not ruled by a monarch.  San Marino has always claimed neutrality preceding the neutrality of Switzerland by several centuries.


 There are three castles on the mountain, two main ones and a smaller one.  This is one of the main ones, looking from the other main castle.
 This is the other main castle.
 Climbing up into the tower .

 Looking down from the tower.
 The foggy valley below.
Standing  guard on the castle wall.

3 comments:

  1. Love the the pictures! I can't wait to see this in person! Aaahh! Only a couple more weeks!

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  2. That looks so amazing! I wish I could be there with you guys.

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  3. The views are beautiful. I'm so glad you are getting to travel and see awesome places like this!

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