Wax, vampires and curiosities, San Marino's oddball museums

Between the towers and the Palazzo Pubblico, San Marino has a second layer of museums that has nothing to do with the State. They’re private, charge separately and set out to surprise. I’ve only included the ones with their own website, because that’s the only way I can tell you what’s inside without making it up.

The wax museum, the oldest of the private ones

The Wax Museum opened in 1966 and bills itself as the first private museum on Titano. It’s at Via Lapicidi Marini 17 and gathers 40 scenes with 100 wax figures in period dress, covering San Marino’s history and some international scenes too. There’s also a section of torture instruments.

For me it’s the most useful of the three if the country itself interests you, because its route follows the Republic’s history. It also has the clearest hours. From October to March it opens 09:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:30; in April, May, June and September, 09:00 to 18:30; in July and August, until 20:00. And it’s open all year. What it doesn’t publish is the price, so you ask at the door.

One warning if you have young children. The torture section is part of the route, so I’d look at it before deciding. If that’s precisely what you’re after, the Torture Museum in San Marino has more than 100 original instruments.

What’s in the vampire museum?

The Museum of Night Creatures is devoted to vampires and werewolves. It’s at Contrada del Collegio 22 in the old town, and it’s run by the same company as the torture museum. What sets it apart is how you visit. There’s an app with an audio guide in Italian and English, set to atmospheric music, and multimedia displays in the rooms.

Outside winter it’s open daily; in winter it drops to Friday around midday plus full weekends. The website doesn’t say which months count as winter, so in the low season I wouldn’t go on a weekday without checking. The price isn’t published either.

My view is simple. If you like the genre, it’s something different on a trip of towers and walls. If it leaves you cold, every venue on the State pass deserves your time first. And if you plan to use the audio guide, grab it on hotel wifi. Using data in San Marino can get pricey depending on your network, as the country sits outside Europe’s roaming deal; it’s all set out on my San Marino phone and roaming page.

The Museum of Curiosities, best with children

It’s at Salita alla Rocca 26, the lane climbing towards the First Tower, and fills 600 m² over three floors of an old palazzo in the centre. It gathers more than 100 original objects that were ordinary in past centuries and now look like joke inventions. A flea trap, a nose clock, a rocking bathtub, a shower with one jet above and another below. Then there are record holders reproduced at life size, such as Robert Wadlow, who was 272 cm tall when he died in 1940.

It’s the only one of the three that publishes prices. Entry costs €9 for adults, €6 reduced and €5 a head for groups of more than 20. Its own website says it’s designed for adults and children, which is why it’s the one I’d choose for a family. What it doesn’t publish is its opening hours. More ideas for them in San Marino with kids.

Since it’s on the way up to the Guaita tower, it slots easily into the walk. I’d save it for the way down, once the little ones have burnt off some energy on the ridge.

Which one would I choose?

One. All three charge extra and none is on the €11 State Museums pass, which for me still comes first in San Marino. With children, the Curiosities. With an interest in the country’s history and no small children, the wax. With a love of the genre, the vampires. To see them scored against the public ones, with prices, check my league table of San Marino’s museums.

You may spot other museums advertised around the centre. Those without their own website giving hours or prices aren’t included here.