World Country Guide

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Food & Drink
Italian cuisine is widely available. Popular first courses include tortellini, passatelli (broth), tagliatelle, lasagne, ravioli, cannelloni and arbalester’s passaduri (a local speciality). Main dishes include roast rabbit with fennel, devilled chicken, quails, veal escalopes, Bolognese veal cutlets, assorted ‘mouthfuls’ (three types of tender meat) and Roman veal escalopes. San Marino tart and cacciatello (similar to crme caramel) may be ordered for dessert. There is a wide selection of restaurants, both in the capital and in the outlying villages. Table service is customary, although a few restaurants are self-service.
San Marino muscat, biancale, albana and sangiovese are all good-quality wines produced locally. Mistra is the local liqueur.

Nightlife
Revues, festivals and theatrical productions are popular.

Shopping
Special purchases include locally made ceramics; stamps and coins bought from the State Philatelic & Numismatic Office, local wines and liqueurs, local jewellery, playing cards and cigarettes. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0830-1300 and 1530-1930.

Special Events
For a list of special events, contact the State Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in San Marino in 2005:
Feb 5 Festival Day of St Agatha. Apr 22-24 San Marino Formula One Grand Prix. Jul San Marino Etnofestival. Sep 3 Placci Cup (San Marino Cycling Grand Prix). Dec 31 Let’s toast the new year together (New Year’s Eve).

Social Conventions
Normal European courtesies and codes of conduct should be observed. Tipping: Service charges are generally included in hotel bills. A 10 per cent tip is usual.