San Marino

Your complete guide to San Marino

Quick Facts

Capital

San Marino (city)

Population

34,232

Languages

Italian

Currency

euros (EUR)

Area

61 sq km

Government

Parliamentary republic

About San Marino

San Marino is a microstate entirely surrounded by Italy, perched atop Monte Titano in the Apennine Mountains. Claiming to be the world's oldest republic — founded, according to tradition, in 301 AD — this tiny enclave of just 33,000 people and 61 square kilometers maintains a fierce independence and a distinct identity.

The Three Towers of San Marino, medieval fortifications crowning Monte Titano's three peaks, are the country's iconic landmarks and appear on its coat of arms. The historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers panoramic views across the Romagna plain to the Adriatic Sea.

Despite its size, San Marino has a diversified economy based on banking, tourism, ceramics, and the sale of collectible postage stamps and coins. It is not an EU member but uses the euro by agreement and maintains close ties with Italy.

History

According to legend, San Marino was founded in 301 AD by a Christian stonemason named Marinus who fled Roman persecution and established a monastic community on Monte Titano. The republic's independence has been maintained for over seventeen centuries, surviving by diplomacy, strategic neutrality, and — occasionally — sheer luck.

Napoleon respected its sovereignty, and the republic remained neutral in both World Wars (though it briefly experienced fascist rule in the 1920s–1940s). San Marino's constitution, dating from 1600, is among the world's oldest written governing documents still in effect.

Geographically the third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member; social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.
CIA World Factbook

Culture & Society

San Marinese culture is closely related to that of the surrounding Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy. The Feast of Saint Marinus (September 3) is the national holiday, celebrated with a crossbow tournament (Palio delle Balestre) and medieval pageantry. Local cuisine features piadina (flatbread), pasta e fagioli, and a distinctive cake called Torta Tre Monti (Three Towers Cake). The country punches above its weight in sport, fielding national teams in football, basketball, and Formula One.

Languages: Italian

Religions: Roman Catholic

Ethnic Groups: Sammarinese, Italian