In San Marino, searching for archaeological objects comes under a research-license system. The Commissione per la Conservazione dei Monumenti e degli Oggetti di Antichità e d’Arte (Commission for the Conservation of Monuments and Objects of Antiquity and Art), known as the C.C.M., can license entities and private individuals under government supervision and scientific conditions. The law does not name metal detectors, and permission to search for modern lost items remains unconfirmed.
Can I detect in San Marino?
The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.
- Anywhere: national heritage lawResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 9, 2026
- Lake & river shoresResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 9, 2026
- Protected monumentsResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 9, 2026
- National parks & nature reservesResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 9, 2026
- State forestsProhibitedChecked against the source Oct 9, 2026
- Private landResearch permits onlyChecked against the source Oct 9, 2026
Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed
The rules, land by land
Anywhere: national heritage law
Research permits onlySearching for archaeological objects is subject to the archaeological-research licensing system.
- This is the archaeological-research license under article 20 of Law 17/1919: entities and private individuals must accept government supervision and conditions imposed in the interests of science.
- The provision does not name metal detectors or establish permission for searching for modern lost items.
What the rule says
“Potrà la Commissione concedere a enti o a privati licenza di eseguire ricerche archeologiche, purchè essi si sottopongano alla vigilanza degli ufficiali governativi e osservino tutte le norme che da queste saranno imposte nell'interesse della scienza.”
Digging
Research permits onlyPrivate archaeological excavation requires the Commission’s research license and government supervision.
- Article 18 separately permits government archaeological excavations throughout San Marino when the Council declares their desirability by decree.
- Under article 20, the license may be withdrawn for failure to follow the scientific conditions or revoked when the government takes over the excavation.
- This archaeological rule does not establish a general authorization requirement for every kind of digging; protected-land excavation bans remain separate.
What the rule says
“Potrà la Commissione concedere a enti o a privati licenza di eseguire ricerche archeologiche, purchè essi si sottopongano alla vigilanza degli ufficiali governativi e osservino tutte le norme che da queste saranno imposte nell'interesse della scienza.”
Keeping finds
ProhibitedUnderground archaeological, prehistoric and paleontological finds form part of the State’s inalienable property.
- Article 78 applies regardless of who finds these objects or how they are discovered underground.
- The 1919 heritage law separately describes official allocations of finds or equivalent value after government excavation, licensed research and accidental discovery. These provisions do not establish an automatic right to take and keep an underground heritage find.
- Ordinary lost objects follow the separate lost-property process; Law 103/2015 excludes the heritage finds identified in its article 2(2)(d).
What the rule says
“Fanno inoltre parte del patrimonio indisponibile: - i beni archeologici, paletnologici, paleontologici da chiunque ed in qualunque maniera ritrovati nel sottosuolo;”
Keeping finds
AllowedEligible ordinary lost objects may be released to the finder after the statutory lost-property process.
- One year must pass from publication of the find without the owner requesting its return. The finder must have requested the object and must collect it within 30 days of the office’s notice, presenting the delivery receipt.
- Keys, photographs and objects containing sensitive or personal data are excluded from release to the finder. The police page also excludes objects with digital memories, sensitive data, serial numbers or IMEI codes.
- Law 103/2015 excludes registered motor vehicles, plainly abandoned scrap, dangerous objects and the heritage finds specified in article 2. Low-value and perishable items follow separate disposal provisions.
- Collection requires the statutory 15-euro storage/custody reimbursement and any documented additional expenses. Uncollected objects pass to the State after the statutory deadlines.
What the rule says
“Trascorso un anno dalla data di pubblicazione del ritrovamento, senza che il proprietario si sia presentato per richiedere la restituzione della cosa, quest’ultima, è messa a disposizione del ritrovatore, che ne abbia fatta richiesta, il quale è tenuto a ritirarla entro trenta giorni dalla data di comunicazione di cui al comma 2.”
Reporting finds
Must be reportedImmediately report an accidental discovery of excavation objects or monumental remains to the competent authority.
- Article 21 places this duty on both the accidental discoverer and the holder of the objects.
- Preserve the objects temporarily and leave them intact until the authority visits. The discoverer may move an object only when its custody cannot otherwise be secured, to protect it until that visit.
- The Commission must arrange an inspection within 15 days of the report; that is not a 15-day reporting deadline.
What the rule says
“Tanto il fortuito scopritore di oggetti di scavo e di resti monumentali, quanto il detentore di essi, debbono farne immediata denuncia all'autorità competente e provvedere alla loro conservazione temporanea lasciandoli intatti fino a che non siano visitati dalla predetta autorità.”
Reporting finds
Must be reportedReturn an ordinary found movable object to its owner or, if the owner is unknown, hand it to the Civil Police office or a police officer without delay.
- The receiving police officer records the circumstances and any request for a reward or later return, and the finder receives a receipt.
- Heritage finds follow their separate statutory regime. Weapons, ammunition, explosives and other potentially dangerous material are excluded from the ordinary scheme and must be handed exclusively to police under article 2(2)(c).
What the rule says
“Chi trova una cosa mobile deve restituirla al proprietario, e, se non lo conosce, deve consegnarla senza ritardo all’Ufficio o ad un funzionario dei corpi di polizia.”
Lake & river shores
Research permits onlyAny archaeological search on a shore within San Marino is subject to the national archaeological-research license.
- The official tourism page places San Marino inland, 10 kilometers in a straight line from the Adriatic Sea. Nearby Italian seaside beaches are outside this jurisdiction.
- This is the archaeological-research license under article 20 of Law 17/1919: entities and private individuals must accept government supervision and conditions imposed in the interests of science.
- The provision does not name metal detectors or establish permission for searching for modern lost items.
- No separate shore-specific detecting or access permission was established in the sources reviewed; the archaeological-research license does not establish permission to enter or detect at a particular site.
What the rule says
“Potrà la Commissione concedere a enti o a privati licenza di eseguire ricerche archeologiche, purchè essi si sottopongano alla vigilanza degli ufficiali governativi e osservino tutte le norme che da queste saranno imposte nell'interesse della scienza.”
Protected monuments
Research permits onlyArchaeological searches at protected monuments remain subject to the research license and separate site protections.
- This is the archaeological-research license under article 20 of Law 17/1919: entities and private individuals must accept government supervision and conditions imposed in the interests of science.
- The provision does not name metal detectors or establish permission for searching for modern lost items.
- Article 16 separately requires Commission authorization to demolish, remove, modify or restore the protected things covered by article 1. Refusal of that authorization may be appealed to the judicial authority.
- On archaeological areas covered by the hydrogeological restrictions in articles 23–24 of Law 126/1995, excavation of any earth or stone is prohibited. A research license should not be treated as an exemption from that separate restriction.
What the rule says
“Potrà la Commissione concedere a enti o a privati licenza di eseguire ricerche archeologiche, purchè essi si sottopongano alla vigilanza degli ufficiali governativi e osservino tutte le norme che da queste saranno imposte nell'interesse della scienza.”
National parks & nature reserves
Research permits onlyArchaeological searches in parks and nature reserves require the national archaeological-research license.
- This is the archaeological-research license under article 20 of Law 17/1919: entities and private individuals must accept government supervision and conditions imposed in the interests of science.
- The provision does not name metal detectors or establish permission for searching for modern lost items.
- Law 126/1995 provides for separate park and reserve regulations in articles 7 and 11. The national research license does not establish permission under those local protection rules.
- Where a park or reserve also falls under the forest or hydrogeological restrictions in articles 22–24, excavation of any earth or stone is prohibited.
What the rule says
“Potrà la Commissione concedere a enti o a privati licenza di eseguire ricerche archeologiche, purchè essi si sottopongano alla vigilanza degli ufficiali governativi e osservino tutte le norme che da queste saranno imposte nell'interesse della scienza.”
State forests
ProhibitedRecovering targets by digging is prohibited in public forests subject to the statutory forest and hydrogeological restrictions.
- This status follows the ban on excavation of any earth or stone in article 24, rather than a ban naming detector use.
- Article 22 covers public and private forest and shrub land shown in the statutory vegetation map, as well as specified riparian, roadside and field-boundary tree vegetation. Check the applicable protected-land mapping before relying on this scope.
- Archaeological research also remains subject to article 20 of Law 17/1919; no general permission for modern-item detecting outside the protected scope was established.
What the rule says
“divieto di scavo di qualsiasi materiale terroso o lapideo, nonchè di estirpazione di ceppaie;”
Private land
Research permits onlyPrivate land is subject to the same archaeological-research licensing requirement.
- This is the archaeological-research license under article 20 of Law 17/1919: entities and private individuals must accept government supervision and conditions imposed in the interests of science.
- The provision does not name metal detectors or establish permission for searching for modern lost items.
- The statutory license is issued by the Commission; permission from a landowner alone is not that license.
- The forest and hydrogeological excavation restrictions in articles 22–24 of Law 126/1995 also cover private land within their stated scope.
What the rule says
“Potrà la Commissione concedere a enti o a privati licenza di eseguire ricerche archeologiche, purchè essi si sottopongano alla vigilanza degli ufficiali governativi e osservino tutte le norme che da queste saranno imposte nell'interesse della scienza.”
Even where detecting is allowed, archaeological and historic sites are protected, and you must fill every hole and follow posted rules. Always confirm the current rule with the land manager.
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The national archaeological rule
Article 20 of Law 17/1919 provides the archaeological-research license. It applies to archaeological searches on public and private land, including parks, protected monuments and any shore within San Marino. Landowner permission alone is not this license.
Private archaeological excavation also requires the license and government supervision. The license can be withdrawn for failure to follow its conditions, or revoked when the government takes over the excavation. This archaeological rule does not establish a permit requirement for every kind of digging.
Forests, parks and protected monuments
In public forests subject to the forest and hydrogeological restrictions in Law 126/1995, recovering a target by digging is prohibited. Article 24 bans excavation of any earth or stone. This is a digging restriction; the provision does not name detector use.
The protected scope includes public and private forest and shrub land shown in the statutory vegetation map, along with specified tree vegetation beside watercourses, roads and field boundaries. The applicable mapping matters. A general permission for modern-item detecting outside that protected scope has not been established.
Law 126/1995 provides for separate protection regulations for parks and nature reserves; no issued regulation has been established in the sources reviewed. An archaeological-research license does not establish permission under those rules. Where forest or hydrogeological restrictions apply, the excavation ban applies too.
At protected monuments, Commission authorization is separately required to demolish, remove, modify or restore the protected things covered by the heritage law. Refusal can be appealed to the judicial authority. Archaeological areas covered by the hydrogeological restrictions also prohibit excavation of earth or stone; a research license is not an established exemption.
Private land and shores
Private land remains subject to the archaeological-research license. The forest and hydrogeological restrictions also cover private property within their stated scope. Permission from an owner does not settle these separate requirements, and ordinary modern-item detecting remains unconfirmed.
San Marino is inland: the official tourism page places it 10 kilometers in a straight line from the Adriatic Sea. Nearby Italian seaside beaches are outside this guide’s jurisdiction. Any archaeological search on a shore within San Marino follows the national research-license rule, but separate shore access and modern-item detecting permission have not been established.
If you uncover heritage
Immediately report an accidental discovery of excavation objects or monumental remains to the competent authority. Article 21 of Law 17/1919 places that duty on both the discoverer and anyone holding the objects.
Preserve the objects temporarily and leave them intact until the authority visits. The discoverer may move an object only when its custody cannot otherwise be secured, to protect it until that visit. The Commission must arrange an inspection within 15 days of the report; you do not have 15 days to make the report.
Underground archaeological, prehistoric and paleontological finds form part of the State’s inalienable property, regardless of who finds them or how. The older heritage law describes official allocations of finds or equivalent value after government excavation, licensed research and accidental discovery. Those provisions do not give a finder an automatic right to take and keep an underground heritage object.
Ordinary lost objects
Return an ordinary found movable object to its owner. If you do not know the owner, hand it to the Corpo di Polizia Civile (Civil Police) office or a police officer without delay. The normal procedure creates a formal record of the circumstances and any request for a reward or later return, with a delivery receipt for the finder. For objects of little or no value, however, article 4(6) says the office does not prepare that formal record.
An eligible object may be released to a finder who requested it if one year passes from publication of the find without the owner requesting its return. The finder must collect it within 30 days of the office’s notice and present the delivery receipt. Collection requires the statutory 15-euro storage and custody reimbursement plus any documented additional expenses. Objects left uncollected after the statutory deadlines pass to the State.
This process has exceptions. Keys, photographs and objects containing sensitive or personal data cannot be released to the finder. The police page also excludes objects with digital memories, sensitive data, serial numbers or IMEI codes. Low-value and perishable items have separate disposal rules.
Law 103/2015 excludes registered motor vehicles, plainly abandoned scrap, dangerous objects and the specified heritage finds from its ordinary scheme. Weapons, ammunition, explosives and other potentially dangerous material must be handed exclusively to police under its separate provision. Heritage discoveries follow the heritage reporting and ownership rules.
Sources
Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 9, 2026):
- Legge 10 giugno 1919 n.17 — Tutela e conservazione dei monumenti, dei musei, degli scavi e degli oggetti di antichità e di arte
- Legge 1 luglio 2015 n.103 — Disposizioni in materia di cose ritrovate
- Relazione per la ratifica della Convenzione UNESCO del 1970
- Legge 16 novembre 1995 n.126 — Legge quadro per la tutela dell’ambiente e la salvaguardia del paesaggio, della vegetazione e della flora
- Raccolta coordinata di norme sull’ordinamento contabile dello Stato — aggiornata al 22 dicembre 2025
- Oggetti smarriti e ritrovati — Polizia Civile
- Popolazione e Territorio di San Marino
- Comitato Tecnico Scientifico
- Archivio — Legge 1 luglio 2015 n.103
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is metal detecting allowed in San Marino?
- Archaeological searching requires the national archaeological-research license. The provision does not name metal detectors, and permission to search for modern lost objects remains unconfirmed. Protected-land digging restrictions may also apply.
- Does private-land permission cover an archaeological search?
- No. The landowner’s permission is not the Commission’s archaeological-research license. Private property may also fall under forest or hydrogeological restrictions that prohibit excavation.
- Can I detect on a beach near San Marino?
- Nearby Italian seaside beaches are outside San Marino and this guide’s jurisdiction. Any archaeological search on a shore within San Marino follows its research-license rule; separate shore access and modern-item detecting permission remain unconfirmed.
- How quickly must I report an accidental heritage find?
- Immediately. Preserve it and leave it intact for the authority’s visit, unless moving it is necessary because its custody cannot otherwise be secured. The 15-day period concerns the Commission’s inspection after the report, not the finder’s reporting deadline.
- Can I keep an ordinary lost object after a year?
- Only through the statutory process for eligible objects. The year runs from publication of the find without an owner requesting its return. You must have requested the object, collect it within 30 days of the office’s notice, present the receipt and pay the required expenses. Excluded objects and heritage finds follow different rules.
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