From Porta San Francesco to the Three Towers, passing through Piazza della Libertà, Palazzo Pubblico and the Basilica del Santo. Pupils from the fifth-grade classes of the L’Olivo primary school in Falciano and Arcobaleno in Cailungo took part in the first guided tour of the project “Sulle tracce della libertà” (“In the footsteps of freedom”), dedicated to the history and values of the Republic of San Marino.
The initiative is aimed at primary school children and offers a route through the historic centre that combines learning about the monuments with reflection on the meaning of freedom and citizenship. As the press release explains, the project “guides young people in discovering the history, identity and founding values of the Republic of San Marino through an engaging journey into the heart of the Historic Centre.”
The thread running through the initiative is the book of the same name, written by teacher Elena Carattoni and published by Gaby Books, a San Marino publishing house specialising in children’s literature. The work is under the patronage of the Secretariats of State for Education and Culture, for the Territory, and for Tourism.
“The route faithfully follows the one described in the book,” the statement reads. The book leads young readers through the most representative sites of the Republic, “highlighting the concept of freedom as a founding element of San Marino’s history and identity.”
During the visit, the children followed the story’s events through activities organised along the route. “Through stories, riddles, observation exercises and moments of discussion, the pupils explored the meaning of values such as freedom, cooperation, a sense of belonging and active citizenship.”
The classes were accompanied by tourist guide Anna Chiara Macina, on behalf of Guide Turistiche e Cultura S.r.l. The tour encouraged questions and active participation from the pupils, linking the book’s narrative to the places they visited.
“The experience ended with a shared moment of reflection on the value of freedom and on getting to know one’s own community,” the statement notes, identifying the meeting point between education and historical heritage as one of the project’s goals.
The initiative also aims to bring new generations closer to the symbolic sites of Mount Titano and to foster awareness of the historic centre recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “By involving schools, the initiative helps pass on to younger generations the value of San Marino’s history and promotes ever-greater awareness of the uniqueness of the Historic Centre, recognised as a World Heritage Site.”
