Have you heard that joke about Europe? It’s great except for all the tourists.
That’s the riposte making the rounds this year about the countries that attract insane amounts of foot traffic, from Iceland to Italy, Greece to Germany and everywhere in between.
Which is why we want to make the case for a tiny, little-known European country as your next holiday destination. It’s called San Marino and it has the dubious accolade of being the least-visited country in Europe, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
But don’t let that put you off, in fact, it should be the reason you send it skyrocketing up to the top of your European bucket list. Least-visited means least amount of tourists, which means that you’re free to enjoy the tiny nation’s stunning vistas all to yourself.
San Marino is situated in the North of Italy, a mountainous micro-state that is renowned for its breathtaking historical architecture and medieval walled old town. With a population of just 33,203 people living in around 23 square miles, it’s one of the world’s smallest countries. (Yes, it’s even smaller than Monaco and Lichtenstein.)
But what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in surroundings. The view from one of the nation’s impeccably preserved 11th-century walled pathways is second to none and the cuisine will blow your mind. It’s here that you can sample crispy piadinas containing bresaola and capers, or black risotto and Cacciatello, a delicious creme caramel-esque dessert made from just three ingredients.
Wash it all down with local cask-aged red wines and Mistra, aniseed-flavored liqueurs for anyone who loves Sambuca.
Our mouths are watering merely at the thought of all these meals. Please excuse us while we book our next holiday to San Marino.