LA CAPANNA: CASUAL BUT LOCAL FARE STEPS FROM THE MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK IN SAN MARINO
The Cost -$15
The Atmosphere – Absolutely stunning. There is only outdoor seating in this no-frills restaurant which offers some of the most amazing views of San Marino, Italy and the Adriatic Sea. Perfectly located right by the first tower of the country’s 11th century castles, it is an easy place to visit right before or after San Marino’s most famous landmark.
Most people know little to nothing about the world’s fifth smallest country, San Marino. The world’s oldest republic is completely surrounded by Italian land and is, in today’s times, most known for its fantastic Eurovision performances. On top of tallest mountain, Mount Titano, lies the walled city of San Marino where you can find La Capanna, a small restaurant that serves casual Sammarinese food.
The Order – A glass of the Rosé Briza, Piadina #3 and a Pizette Funghi.
The Great – I had no idea that San Marino produced wine and when I saw that the Rosé Briza was a Sammarinese sparkling rosé, I had to order a glass. Though it was not the most bubbly sparkling wine I’ve ever had (which could have been due to the length of time the bottle had been open), it did have a beautiful pink hue and was incredibly easy to drink. I was pleasantly surprised by this $4 glass of wine though I guess I shouldn’t have been since Italian land was just a few miles away. The Piadina that I ordered was also very good. Piadane are thin flatbreads that are filled with various ingredients to make sandwiches and the one I ordered had prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula and tomatoes inside. The bread is soft and fluffy and resembles a lavash and was the best part of the sandwich and I loved trying this traditional regional dish.
The Okay – I wanted to try the pizza while I was at La Capanna so I ordered the perfectly sized Pizette Funghi. While it wasn’t bad, the simple tomato sauce, cheese and mushroom pizza wasn’t anything special and is much more suitable for undiscerning children.
The Verdict – La Capanna offers you the chance to try local wine and food that is extremely difficult to find outside of the region. When you combine that with the views and the prices, stopping in to this restaurant for a quick meal during daylight hours on your next trip to San Marino is a no brainer.