Cistern of the Convent of San Francesco

Useful Information

Location:	Piazza Garibaldi, 5 – Città di San Marino. (43.9354523, 12.4471593)
Open:	JAN to JUN daily 9-17. AUG to SEP daily 9:30-18:30. OCT to DEC daily 9-17. School Holidays daily 9:30-18:30. Closed 01-JAN, 02-NOV, 25-DEC. [2025]
Fee:	Two Museums: Adults EUR 9, Children (0-18) free, Disabled free, Students EUR 6, Seniors (65+) EUR 6. All Museums: Adults EUR 11, Children (0-18) free, Disabled free, Students EUR 8, Seniors (65+) EUR 8. [2025]
Classification:	Cistern
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Museo del Francobollo e della Moneta, Piazza Garibaldi, 5, Città di San Marino, Tel: 0549-882914. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1877	first stamps issued by the San Marino Post Office.

Description

The Cistern of the Convent of San Francesco is located in the Museo del Francobollo e della Moneta (Stamp and Coin Museum) at the end of Via Donna Felicissima. This area has numerous museums, and actually nothing hints that this museum has an underground sight. At the time of its establishment in 301, the Republic of San Marino had only one public cistern. It was located near the First Tower. But then the population grew and several cisterns were dug into the rock. They were connected by channels and formed an underground network of water supply systems in Mount Titano. In the 18th century there were 61 wells and 34 cisterns, as well as natural springs and wash-houses.

This museum, like most others in San Marino, is located in the premises of a historic building. And independent of the topic of the museum, the building has its own interesting details and history. The cistern was renovated and is now part of the exhibition, although most visitors probably do not realize its existence. The cistern is closed by a glass window, and so it is possible to see it but not to enter it. But with so many vitrines containing spectacular stamps and coins, people tend to overlook an empty room. And the location of the window overlooking the cistern in the philatelic gallery on the second floor is unexpected.

San Marino is an independent state, nevertheless, surrounded by Italy it had many contracts with the larger country. One was the use of the Italian Lira until they finally joined the Euro. So the country used the Italian coins, but issued State commemorative medals with lira issued from 1972 to 2001. They also had their own currency, the Scudo, and still issue gold coins in this currency. And since the Euro era, they’ve also issued commemorative Euro coins.

The museums of the small country are state owned, and it is possible to buy a ticket for two museums or for all museums. The latter is a real bargain. You can visit Tower I, Tower II, Palazzo Pubblico, State Museum, Pinacoteca San Francesco, National Gallery, and the Museum of Stamps and Money. That’s seven museums, plan a full day.