State Museum of the Republic of San Marino

Rooms I - II - III

Remains from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages found on San Marino territory.

Though recent, San Marino systematic archaeological research has brought to light several finds and, above all, has led to a better knowledge of the ancient history of the territory, inhabited since the Prehistoric period and seat of small Villanovan and Roman settlements. Clay and bronze ex-votos and coins nscovered between 1990 and 1994 icstify to the presence of a highly frequented sanctuary on Mount Titano (In an area called “Tanaccia") from the u.h century B.C. to the Imperial period.

Some of the numerous rural settlements of the Roman period unearthed on the surrounding hills show the presence of a residential sector and of an area for the production of tiles, pottery and objects in local stone. In some cases, like for example in Domagnano. excavations have confirmed an uninterrupted presence of settlements since the time of the Goths.

Some remains testify to the existence of a monastery in San Marino in the 6th century, probably the initial nucleus of the town and of the Basilica, restructured in the 19th century. Also on display are some architectonic elements and a Renaissance polyptych by Francesco Menzocchi (approx. 1530) coming from the Basilica.

Room IV

Renaissance architectonic, plastic and painting elements from the ancient Basilica of San Marino.

Room V

Paintings, ceramics and furnishings coming from the ancient Monastery of Saint Chiara dating back to the 16th - 19th century.

Rooms VI - VII - VIII

Paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 19th century related to the Republic’s history and legends and to the veneration of its saints.

Room IX

The artistic donations which gave origin to the Museum.

Mainly between the 16th and the 18th century San Marino received works of art of remarkable importance and beauty, many of which are now displayed in the Rooms of this Museum. Worth mentioning are some paintings of the 17th century coming from the Bolognese school. Particularly important are the Saint Filippo Neri by the Guercino (1656) and the works of his pupils Matteo Loves and Cesare Gennari. However, the masterpiece of this collection is a large canvas depicting Saint Marino with the Republic in his hands, painted by Pompeo Batoni in Rome in 1740. This painting of high artistic quality is important also for its historical and civil meaning.

Many works in Room VII are dedicated to the main patron saints of the Republic, St. Marino and St. Agata.

On show here are also some objects used for the activities of San Marino institutions (urns and plates for voting procedures, the form of oath of the Captains Regent, etc.), the decorations of the honorary equestrian titles conferred by the Republic and furnishings of every day use (mugs, music instruments and games).A small Room (iX) is dedicated to the origins of this State Museum and gathers the first donations made in the 19th century. Worth mentioning are two sections of a polyptych by Michele Glambono (15th century), a canvas by Bernardo Strozzi and some sculptures from the 15th and 16th century.

Rooms X - XI - XII

Icons, pottery, paintings and works of art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

The first donations to the Government of San Marino for the creation of a Stale Museum were made in 1865 thanks to the Piedmontese minister Luigi Cibrario.

The donations from various parts of Europe here on show include Medieval objects, rare Limoges enamels and a small collection of Byzantine icons, supplemented with recent purchases and two panel paintings of local provenance.

Moreover, the Museum gathers some 18th century paintings from Latin America, some works , of the 16th and 17th century (from the schools in Tuscany I ill and Umbria, by Tiburzio mjf\ I’asserotti and Aniello Falcone), as well as wooden and bronze sculptures.

Particularly praiseworthy is a rich collection of European majolica, with pieces coming from the factories in Italy (Faenza, Savona, Montelupo). France (Moustiers. Marsiglia) and The Netherlands (Delft).

Rooms XIII - XIV - XV

Prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman and Italiot finds.

Room XVI

Coins and medals minted by San Marino and from other collections.

Besides a collection of stone objects ; coming from French Brittany (donated in 1887), this Museum also displays a valuable collection of Egyptian finds. Particularly important are some statuettes belonging to funerary ; furnishings (ushabti) or representing I divinities and a rare collection of 28 “phials of S. Mena”, coming from various donations.

On show are also large collections of Greek, Etruscan and Italiot vases with black or red figures, mostly produced in Southern Italy, pottery, votive Roman objects, decorative and commonly used objects (glasses, oil lamps, necklaces, studs, fibula, mirrors etc.) and ancient coins.

A small room gathers a valuable collection of the gj most ancient coins minted by the State in 1864.