The Founder Saint of the Republic, Marino, born in the late Roman period around 301 A.D., was a stonecutter who reached Rimini from Dalmatia to help build the city walls. To this end, he was sent to Mount Titano to find the necessary stone. Subsequently, Marino, in order to escape persecutions against the Christians, returned to Mount Titano where he lived as an hermit and built a small cell. Verissimo, the son of the lady who owned those lands remained paralysed and dumb while trying to drive the Saint away. His mother, Felicissima, interceded with Marino for his son and Verissimo recovered. As a sign of gratitude, Felicissima converted to Christianity and donated Mount Titano to the Saint.

Recent archaeological excavations have revealed some close links between ancient history and some elements of the legend. Indeed, some stone quarries existed on Mount Titano already in the Roman period and, most probably, rich landowners, like the dominus of Domagnano, controlled not only the landed property but also the stone quarries, and were, therefore, the owners of the Mount. Moreover, according to the legend, the divinity worshipped at Tanaccia healed articulations and Verissimo recovered from paralysis.