The Holy Father’s Visit to San Marino
Regulations for accommodation providers and business owners in the Old Town
THE HOLY FATHER’S VISIT TO SAN MARINO
REGULATIONS FOR ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE OLD TOWN
1. Access to theOld Town and departure of guests
• Access to the area within the red perimeter shown on the map will be permitted only to those in possession of a valid pass.
• Owners and staff of accommodation providers situated within the red perimeter must enter the Old Town by 8.30 on 22 August.
• To obtain the relevant passes, each accommodation provider operating within the designated area must send an email by 17 August 2026 to visitasantopadre@esteri.sm, stating:
o the first name and surname of the owner(s);
o the first name and surname of the staff members who will be on duty on 22 August.
• The pass will also allow free use of the cable car.
• Guests staying at accommodation facilities in these areas may check out and leave the Old Town on foot by 8.45.
• After 8.45, guests and tourists will not be permitted to walk within the red zone, unless they have specific authorisation or the police issue different instructions.
• Accommodation providers are therefore advised to inform their guests in advance of the restrictions in place and to organise check-out procedures so that guests can leave by 8.45.
2. Entry and exit of cars, use of car parks
• Cars belonging to guests already in the private car parks of accommodation facilities may, on an exceptional basis, pass through to leave San Marino Old Town by 8.00 on 22 August.
• Accommodation providers are advised to inform the guests concerned so that they can plan their departure well in advance, taking into account the traffic restrictions set out in Order No. 213/2026.
• Following the provisions regarding the closure of car parks, car parks P9 and P10 will remain accessible, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Order.
3. Removal of platforms, structures and outdoor furniture
Accommodation providers with platforms, lightweight structures or outdoor furniture in the areas specified by the Decree-Law must ensure these are completely removed by the specified times.
Specifically:
• Restricted Traffic Zone: from 11.00 on Friday 21 August to 2.00 on Saturday 22 August;
• Campo Bruno Reffi, Cava degli Umbri (P7), Via Francesco Maccioni, Via della Fratta, Piazza Antonio di Paolo Fabbri, Via Gino Zani, Viale Antonio Onofri, Piazza Alvaro Casali, Piazzetta Alcide De Gasperi, Via Paolo Terzo, Via Giacomo Matteotti, Via Pietro Franciosi, Piazzale della Stazione, Viale Federico d’Urbino and Piazzale Marino Giangi (P2/A): from 11.00 on Friday 21 August to 14.00 on Saturday 22 August;
• Piazzale Lo Stradone: from midnight on Thursday 20 August to 16.00 on Saturday 22 August.
4. Guidelines for accommodation providers
In order to ensure the smooth running of the Holy Father’s visit and to facilitate the movement of guests in the Old Town, accommodation providers are advised to:
• promptly inform guests of any restrictions on access and movement;
• arrange for guests to check out by 8.45;
• ask guests using cars parked in private car parks to leave the city by 8.00;
• submit the names required for the issue of passes by 17 August;
• ensure, where applicable, that outdoor furniture and structures are removed within the specified timeframes.
We would like to thank the accommodation providers for their cooperation and ask them to ensure that these provisions are widely communicated to their guests and staff.
REGULATIONS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE OLD TOWN
To mark the visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, specific security measures and access controls will be put in place in the HOld Town on 22 August 2026.
The provisions set out below are laid down in Decree-Law No. 121 of 12 August 2026 and Order No. 213/2026.
1. Access to the Old Town
• Access to the area within the red perimeter shown on the map will be permitted only to those in possession of a valid pass.
• Business owners and staff in these areas must enter the Old Town by 8.30.
• To obtain a valid pass, every business owner whose premises are located within the designated area must send an email to visitasantopadre@esteri.sm by 17 August 2026, stating:
o the first name and surname of the owner(s);
o the first name and surname of the employees on duty on 22 August.
• With the business owner’s pass, you will be able to use the cable car free of charge.
2. Shop opening hours
Saturday 22 August, from 7.00 to 13.00:
• shops and retail outlets located within the old city walls of San Marino must remain closed to the public;
• owners and staff are permitted to be present on the premises;
• neither sales nor customer access are permitted;
• where possible, businesses are required to keep their premises and shop windows lit and to maintain the appearance of their premises, avoiding, where compatible with the security of the premises, the complete closure of shutters and external fixtures.
The following are exempt from the closure requirement:
• establishments serving food and drink exclusively as part of their bar operations;
• food shops.
3. Removal of platforms and outdoor furniture
Businesses affected by the areas specified in the Decree-Law must ensure the complete removal of platforms, lightweight structures, street furniture and outdoor furniture.
Removal times:
• Restricted Traffic Zone: from 23:00 on 21 August to 14:00 on 22 August;
• Campo Bruno Reffi, Cava degli Umbri (P7), Via Francesco Maccioni, Via della Fratta, Piazza Antonio di Paolo Fabbri, Via Gino Zani, Viale Antonio Onofri, Piazza Alvaro Casali, Piazzetta Alcide De Gasperi, Via Paolo Terzo, Via Giacomo Matteotti, Via Pietro Franciosi, Piazzale della Stazione, Viale Federico d’Urbino and Piazzale Marino Giangi (P2/A): from 11.00 on 21 August to 14.00 on 22 August;
• Piazzale Lo Stradone: from 00.00 on 20 August to 16.00 on 22 August.
4. Drinks and containers
In the areas affected by the security measures:
From 7.00 to 13.00 on 22 August
• the sale and serving of takeaway drinks in glass bottles or containers and in tins is prohibited.
From 00.00 to 13.00 on 22 August, in areas subject to security checks for access to Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Domus Plebis:
• it will not be permitted to bring in glass bottles or containers, tins or rigid water bottles;
• only paper or plastic containers will be permitted.
5. Car parks
In accordance with Order No. 213/2026, car parks P9 and P10 will remain open to the public.
All business owners are therefore invited to plan the necessary arrangements in good time and to submit the names of their staff by the specified deadlines, so that passes can be issued and unhindered access to the Old Town can be guaranteed.
Download Decree-Law No. 121 of 12 August 2026