Borgo Maggiore

Borgo Maggiore sits on the slope below San Marino city and has been the republic's market town since the medieval period, with the Thursday market still running in the Piazza Grande and a cable car climbing to the capital in a couple of minutes. The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Consolazione stands in the town, and the streets keep more everyday life than the capital above.

History

The town was formerly called Mercatale, the marketplace, and it remains San Marino's main market town; with 6,953 people in January 2025 it is the second largest town after Dogana (Wikipedia, Borgo Maggiore).

What you'll find

• The Thursday market - the medieval market still held in the Piazza Grande.
• The cable car - the two-minute climb to the capital above.
• The everyday town - a working settlement rather than a visitor centre.
• The slope position - the town below the walls of the capital.

When to go

Thursday is market day. April to October is the main season. The cable car runs year round with some maintenance closures.

What to expect

Borgo Maggiore sits in the World Heritage buffer zone rather than the inscribed property, which covers the historic centre and Monte Titano. The town is quiet outside market day. The cable car queues in high season.

Nearby

San Marino city is above, and the Sanctuary is in the town.

Key facts