Saint Francis’s Gate or Country Gate

San Marino per tutti

Saint Francis’s Gate or Country Gate

Accessible.
Insert on Route n.3

Made of gray stone smoothed with a chisel, it is the first entrance built during the construction of the third set of walls in the 16th century. On the façade is a prominent balcony dating from the 16th century on whose front is carved the coat of arms of the Republic. Once the balcony and the adjoining room were used as a military post. Inside the Gate is a prominent recent plaque commemorating the inscription of San Marino on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A little higher up are visible two historical graffiti quoting two statutes in force at the time of the church construction. The first concerned the obligation to lay down weapons before entering the town and the other indicates the rule for the guards not to open the doors "between a clapper and the other if not for public affairs".