What do people eat in San Marino?

Diet

The diet in San Marino is influenced by its geographical location, historical heritage, and cultural traditions. It shares similarities with Italian cuisine while also incorporating local ingredients and flavors.

Fresh Ingredients: San Marino's cuisine uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, and dairy products. Fresh produce is often showcased in salads, soups, and side dishes, providing vibrant flavors and nutritional value.

Pasta and Risotto: Pasta dishes are a staple of San Marinese cuisine, with various shapes and sauces available. Popular pasta dishes include tagliatelle al ragù (pasta with meat sauce), lasagna, and ravioli filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables. Risotto, a creamy rice dish cooked with broth and other ingredients, is also commonly enjoyed.

Seafood: San Marino's proximity to the Adriatic Sea influences its culinary offerings, with seafood featuring prominently in the diet. Fresh fish and shellfish, such as sea bass, bream, squid, and mussels, are often grilled, roasted, or served in pasta dishes, risottos, or seafood stews.

Meats and Cheeses: Meat dishes are popular in San Marino, with pork, beef, and poultry commonly consumed. Grilled meats like pork chops and sausages are favored, along with hearty meat stews and braises. Local cheeses, such as pecorino and ricotta, are also used in various dishes or enjoyed independently.

Olives and Olive Oil: Olives and olive oil are essential ingredients in San Marinese cuisine, adding flavor and richness to dishes. Extra virgin olive oil, produced locally or imported from neighboring regions, is used for cooking, dressing salads, and drizzling over bread.

Bread and Baked Goods: Bread is a fundamental component of the San Marinese diet, with various bread and baked goods available. Crusty bread, flatbreads, and savory focaccias are enjoyed alongside meals or as snacks, often accompanied by olive oil, cheese, or cured meats.

Wine: San Marino has a long winemaking tradition, with vineyards dotting its picturesque countryside. Wine is an integral part of the San Marinese diet, with local varieties such as Sangiovese, Albana, and Trebbiano being popular choices. Wine is enjoyed with meals or as an aperitif during social gatherings and celebrations.

Mealtime

Fagioli con le cotiche a bean soup with bacon rind is a holiday dish eaten at Christmas time. Other favorites include zuppa di ciliege (cherries soaked in red wine and sugar served with bread) and bustrengo.

Back to San Marino Facts

All Countries
Afghanistan Akrotiri Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe