San Marino (, ), officially the Republic of San Marino
( it, Repubblica di San Marino; ), also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino ( it, Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino, links=no), is the
fifth-smallest country in the world
and a
European microstate
The European microstates or European ministates are a set of very small sovereign states in Europe. In modern contexts the term is typically used to refer to the six smallest states in Europe by area: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco ...
in
Southern Europe
Southern Europe is the southern region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Alba ...
enclaved by
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. Located on the northeastern side of the
Apennine Mountains, San Marino covers a land area of just over , and has a population of 33,562.
San Marino is a
landlocked country
A landlocked country is a country that does not have territory connected to an ocean or whose coastlines lie on endorheic basins. There are currently 44 landlocked countries and 4 landlocked de facto states. Kazakhstan is the world's largest ...
; however, its northeastern end is within of the Italian city of
Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
on the
Adriatic coast. The
nearest airport is also in Italy. The country's capital city, the
City of San Marino
The City of San Marino ( it, Città di San Marino; also known simply as San Marino and locally as Città) is the capital city of the Republic of San Marino. It has a population of 4,061. It is on the western slopes of San Marino's highest poi ...
, is located atop
Monte Titano
Monte Titano ("Mount Titan") is a mountain of the Apennines and the highest peak in San Marino. It stands above sea level and is located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 20 ...
, while its largest settlement is
Dogana within the largest municipality of
Serravalle. San Marino's official language is
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
.
The country derives its name from
Saint Marinus
Saint Marinus (; it, San Marino) was an Early Christian and the founder of a chapel and monastery in 301 from whose initial community the state of San Marino later grew.
Life
Tradition holds that he was a stonemason by trade who came from the ...
, a
stonemason from the then-
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
island of
Rab
Rab âːb( dlm, Arba, la, Arba, it, Arbe, german: Arbey) is an island in the northern Dalmatia region in Croatia, located just off the northern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea.
The island is long, has an area of and 9,328 inhabitants (2 ...
in present-day Croatia. Born in AD 275, Marinus participated in the rebuilding of
Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
's city walls after their destruction by
Liburnian
The Liburnians or Liburni ( grc, Λιβυρνοὶ) were an ancient tribe inhabiting the district called Liburnia, a coastal region of the northeastern Adriatic between the rivers ''Arsia'' ( Raša) and ''Titius'' ( Krka) in what is now Croatia ...
pirates. Marinus then went on to found an independently ruled monastic community on Monte Titano in AD 301; thus, San Marino lays claim to being the oldest extant sovereign state, as well as the oldest
constitutional republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...
.
Uniquely,
San Marino's constitution dictates that its democratically elected
legislature
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
, the
Grand and General Council
The Grand and General Council ( it, Consiglio Grande e Generale) is the parliament of San Marino. The council has 60 members elected for a five-year term.
History
From the fifth century San Marino was ruled by an assembly composed by all t ...
, must elect two heads of state every six months. Known as
captains regent
The Captains Regent (Italian: ''Capitani reggenti'') are the two heads of state of the Republic of San Marino. They are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council, the country's legislative body. Normally the Regents are chosen ...
, the two heads of state serve concurrently and hold equal powers until their term expires after six months.
The country's economy is mainly based on
finance,
industry
Industry may refer to:
Economics
* Industry (economics), a generally categorized branch of economic activity
* Industry (manufacturing), a specific branch of economic activity, typically in factories with machinery
* The wider industrial sector ...
,
services
Service may refer to:
Activities
* Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty
* Civil service, the body of employees of a government
* Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a p ...
,
retail
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and ...
, and
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...
. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world in
GDP per capita, with a figure comparable to the most developed European regions.
[San Marino](_blank)
''The World Factbook
''The World Factbook'', also known as the ''CIA World Factbook'', is a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. The official print version is availabl ...
''. Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...
. Its health care system ranks 3rd in the World Health Organization first ever analysis of the world's health systems. Despite this fact, ranking
44th, its
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic composite index of life expectancy, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income indicators, wh ...
score is the lowest in Western Europe. Among the European microstates..
History
Saint Marinus
Saint Marinus (; it, San Marino) was an Early Christian and the founder of a chapel and monastery in 301 from whose initial community the state of San Marino later grew.
Life
Tradition holds that he was a stonemason by trade who came from the ...
left the island of
Rab
Rab âːb( dlm, Arba, la, Arba, it, Arbe, german: Arbey) is an island in the northern Dalmatia region in Croatia, located just off the northern Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea.
The island is long, has an area of and 9,328 inhabitants (2 ...
in present-day
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
with his lifelong friend Leo, and went to the city of
Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
as a stonemason. After the
Diocletianic Persecution
The Diocletianic or Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, the emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding Christians' legal rig ...
following his Christian sermons, he escaped to the nearby
Monte Titano
Monte Titano ("Mount Titan") is a mountain of the Apennines and the highest peak in San Marino. It stands above sea level and is located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 20 ...
, where he built a small church and thus founded what is now the city and state of San Marino.
The official founding date is 3 September 301 AD. In 1320, the community of
Chiesanuova
Chiesanuova ( rgn, Cisanòva) is a minor municipality of San Marino. It has a population of 1,143 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 5.46 km2.
Etymology
From Italian ''chiesa'' ("church") + ''nuova'', feminine singular of ''nuovo'' ("new ...
chose to join the country. In 1463, San Marino was extended with the communities of
Faetano
Faetano is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of San Marino. It has 1,177 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 7.75 km2.
Geography
It borders the Sammarinese municipalities of Montegiardino, Fiorentino, Borgo Maggiore, and Domagnano a ...
,
Fiorentino
Fiorentino is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of the Republic of San Marino. It has 2,548 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of .
Geography
It borders the San Marino municipalities Chiesanuova, San Marino, Borgo Maggiore, Faetano, and Mon ...
,
Montegiardino
Montegiardino is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of San Marino. It has 967 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 3.31 km2.
The residences of the University of the Republic of San Marino, the country's only university, are located in Mon ...
, and
Serravalle, after which the country's borders have remained unchanged.
In 1503,
Cesare Borgia, the son of
Pope Alexander VI, occupied the Republic for six months until his father's successor,
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II ( la, Iulius II; it, Giulio II; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or th ...
, intervened and restored the country's independence.
On 4 June 1543, Fabiano di Monte San Savino, nephew of the later
Pope Julius III
Pope Julius III ( la, Iulius PP. III; it, Giulio III; 10 September 1487 – 23 March 1555), born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 February 1550 to his death in March 155 ...
, attempted to conquer the republic, but his infantry and cavalry failed as they got lost in a dense fog, which the Sammarinese attributed to
Saint Quirinus, whose feast day it was.
After the
Duchy of Urbino
The Duchy of Urbino was an independent duchy in early modern central Italy, corresponding to the northern half of the modern region of Marche. It was directly annexed by the Papal States in 1625.
It was bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the east ...
was annexed by the
Papal States
The Papal States ( ; it, Stato Pontificio, ), officially the State of the Church ( it, Stato della Chiesa, ; la, Status Ecclesiasticus;), were a series of territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope fro ...
in 1625, San Marino became an enclave within the Papal States, something which led to its seeking the formal protection of the Papal States in 1631, but this never equalled a ''de facto'' Papal control of the republic.
The country was occupied on 17 October 1739 by the legate (Papal governor) of
Ravenna
Ravenna ( , , also ; rgn, Ravèna) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 408 until its collapse in 476. It then served as the ca ...
, Cardinal
Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni (30 May 1664 OS – 26 June NS 1752) was an Italian cardinal and
statesman in the service of Philip V of Spain.
Early years
He was born near Piacenza, probably at the village of Fiorenzuola d'Arda in the Duchy of Parma.
His fat ...
, but independence was restored by
Pope Clement XII on 5 February 1740, the feast day of
Saint Agatha
Agatha of Sicily () is a Christian saint. Her feast is on 5 February. Agatha was born in Catania, part of the Roman Province of Sicily, and was martyred . She is one of several virgin martyrs who are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Ma ...
, after which she became a patron saint of the republic.
[Nevio and Annio Maria Matteimi ''The Republic of San Marino: Historical and Artistic Guide to the City and the Castles'', 2011, p. 23.]
The advance of
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
's army in 1797 presented a brief threat to the independence of San Marino, but the country was saved from losing its liberty by one of its regents,
Antonio Onofri, who managed to gain the respect and friendship of Napoleon. Due to Onofri's intervention, Napoleon, in a letter delivered to
Gaspard Monge
Gaspard Monge, Comte de Péluse (9 May 1746 – 28 July 1818) was a French mathematician, commonly presented as the inventor of descriptive geometry, (the mathematical basis of) technical drawing, and the father of differential geometry. During ...
, scientist and commissary of the French Government for Science and Art, promised to guarantee and protect the independence of the Republic, even offering to extend its territory according to its needs. The offer was declined by the regents, fearing future retaliation from other states'
revanchism
Revanchism (french: revanchisme, from ''revanche'', "revenge") is the political manifestation of the will to reverse territorial losses incurred by a country, often following a war or social movement. As a term, revanchism originated in 1870s Fr ...
.
![San Marino constitution 1600](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/San_Marino_constitution_1600.jpg)
During the later phase of the
Italian unification process in the 19th century, San Marino served as a refuge for many people persecuted because of their support for unification, including
Giuseppe Garibaldi and his wife
Anita. Garibaldi allowed San Marino to remain independent. San Marino and the
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy ( it, Regno d'Italia) was a state that existed from 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King of Italy, until 1946, when civil discontent led to an institutional referendum to abandon the monarchy and f ...
signed a Convention of Friendship in 1862.
The government of San Marino made United States President
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
an honorary citizen. He wrote in reply, saying that the republic proved that "government founded on republican principles is capable of being so administered as to be secure and enduring."
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, when Italy declared war on
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
on 24 May 1915, San Marino remained neutral and Italy adopted a hostile view of Sammarinese neutrality, suspecting that San Marino could harbour Austrian spies who could be given access to its new radiotelegraph station. Italy tried to forcibly establish a detachment of
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri (, also , ; formally ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', "Arm of Carabineers"; previously ''Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali'', "Royal Carabineers Corps") are the national gendarmerie of Italy who primarily carry out domestic and foreign polic ...
in the republic and then cut the republic's telephone lines when it did not comply. Two groups of ten volunteers joined Italian forces in the fighting on the
Italian front, the first as combatants and the second as a medical corps operating a Red Cross field hospital. The existence of this hospital later caused Austria-Hungary to suspend diplomatic relations with San Marino.
After the war, San Marino suffered from high rates of unemployment and inflation, leading to increased tensions between the lower and middle classes. The latter, fearing that the moderate government of San Marino would make concessions to the lower class majority, began to show support for the
Sammarinese Fascist Party
The Sammarinese Fascist Party ( it, Partito Fascista Sammarinese) or PFS was a fascist political party that ruled San Marino from 1923 to 1943.
History
The party was founded on 10 August 1922 and led by Giuliano Gozi, a Sammarinese World War ...
(, PFS), founded in 1922 and styled largely on their
Italian counterpart. PFS rule lasted from 1923 to 1943, and during this time they often sought support from
Benito Mussolini's fascist government in Italy.
![Guerra1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/A_soldier%27s_grave_in_Monte_Titano_%28September_1944%29.jpg)
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, San Marino remained neutral, although it was wrongly reported in an article from ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' that it had declared war on the United Kingdom on 17 September 1940. The Sammarinese government later transmitted a message to the British government stating that they had not declared war on the United Kingdom.
On 28 July 1943, three days after the
fall of the Fascist regime in Italy, PFS rule collapsed and the new government declared neutrality in the conflict. The PFS regained power on 1 April 1944, but kept neutrality intact. Despite that, on 26 June 1944, San Marino was bombed by the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
, in the belief that San Marino had been overrun by German forces and was being used to amass stores and ammunition. The Sammarinese government declared on the same day that no military installations or equipment were located on its territory, and that no belligerent forces had been allowed to enter. San Marino accepted thousands of civilian refugees when Allied forces went over the
Gothic Line. In September 1944, it was briefly occupied by German forces, who were defeated by Allied forces in the
Battle of San Marino
The Battle of San Marino was an engagement on 17–20 September 1944 during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War, in which German Army forces occupied the neutral Republic of San Marino, and were then attacked by Allied forces. It is als ...
.
San Marino had the world's first democratically elected
communist government – a coalition between the
Sammarinese Communist Party
The Sammarinese Communist Party ( it, Partito Comunista Sammarinese, abbreviated PCS) was a Marxist political party in the small European republic of San Marino.
It was founded in 1921 as a section of the Communist Party of Italy (PCI). The organ ...
and the
Sammarinese Socialist Party
The Sammarinese Socialist Party ( it, Partito Socialista Sammarinese, PSS) was a socialist and, later, social-democratic political party in San Marino. Its Italian counterpart was the Italian Socialist Party and its international affiliation was w ...
, which held office between 1945 and 1957.
This broke the theme among other
Marxist-Leninist states of
state atheism
State atheism is the incorporation of positive atheism or non-theism into political regimes. It may also refer to large-scale secularization attempts by governments. It is a form of religion-state relationship that is usually ideologically l ...
, becoming the first (and only) Communist
theocracy
Theocracy is a form of government in which one or more deities are recognized as supreme ruling authorities, giving divine guidance to human intermediaries who manage the government's daily affairs.
Etymology
The word theocracy originates fr ...
as well.
San Marino is the world's smallest
republic, although when
Nauru gained independence in 1968 it challenged that claim. Nauru's
land mass
A landmass, or land mass, is a large region or area of land. The term is often used to refer to lands surrounded by an ocean or sea, such as a continent or a large island. In the field of geology, a landmass is a defined section of continent ...
is only , but its jurisdiction over its surrounding waters covers , an area thousands of times greater than the territory of San Marino. San Marino became a member of the
Council of Europe in 1988 and of the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
in 1992. It is not a member of the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
, although it uses the
euro
The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...
as its currency (despite not legally being part of the
Eurozone
The euro area, commonly called eurozone (EZ), is a currency union of 19 member states of the European Union (EU) that have adopted the euro ( €) as their primary currency and sole legal tender, and have thus fully implemented EMU polici ...
). Before the introduction of the euro, the country's currency was the
Sammarinese lira
The lira (plural ''lire''; abbreviation: SML) was the currency of San Marino from the 1860s until it was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2002. It was equivalent and pegged to the Italian lira. Italian coins and banknotes and Vatican City coins ...
.
As of June 2020, San Marino had the highest death rate per capita of any country, due to the effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
. In April 2021, the nation received headlines for using the Russian
Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine
Sputnik V (russian: Спутник V, the brand name from RDIF) or Gam-COVID-Vac (russian: Гам-КОВИД-Вак, the name under which it is legally registered and produced) is an adenovirus viral vector vaccine for COVID-19 developed by ...
rather than vaccines approved by the EU following a slow rollout for the latter vaccines.
At the
2020 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 1 ...
, San Marino became the smallest country to earn an Olympic medal when
Alessandra Perilli
Alessandra Perilli (born April 1, 1988) is a Sammarinese professional target shooter. Her hometown is Borgo Maggiore. She finished 4th after a draw for 2nd place with a French and a Slovakian shooter in the Women's trap at the 2012 Summer Olymp ...
won a bronze medal in
women's trap. They later won another medal, this one silver, with Perilli's and
Gian Marco Berti's performance in the
mixed trap shooting event.
On 7 March 2022, during the Russia-Ukraine War, the Russian Kremlin released a list of countries, via Twitter, who it considered "unfriendly" to Russia. San Marino was included in the list, alongside numerous well known Russian adversaries such as the United States and countries in the European Union. The motivation for including San Marino as an "unfriendly" nation was unclear and gained substantial attention on the Internet.
On 31 August 2022, San Marino officials voted to legalize abortion in the republic, "one of the last European states to have had the procedure outlawed under all circumstances". 32 members of the legislature approved the bill while 10 abstained and 7 rejected. The public health system is promised to cover the cost of the abortion procedure.
Geography
![San Marino - Cloudy sunset](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/San_Marino_-_Cloudy_sunset.jpg)
San Marino is an
enclave surrounded by Italy in Southern Europe, on the border between the
regions
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of
Emilia Romagna
Emilia-Romagna (, , both also ; ; egl, Emégglia-Rumâgna or ''Emîlia-Rumâgna''; rgn, Emélia-Rumâgna) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy, administrative regions of Italy, situated in the north of the country, comprising the historical regions ...
and
Marche and about from the
Adriatic coast at Rimini. Its hilly topography, with no substantial naturally flat ground, is part of the
Apennine mountain range. The highest point in the country, the summit of
Monte Titano
Monte Titano ("Mount Titan") is a mountain of the Apennines and the highest peak in San Marino. It stands above sea level and is located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 20 ...
, is
above sea level; the lowest, the
Ausa River (ending in the
Marecchia
The Marecchia () is a river in eastern Italy. In ancient times it was known as the ''Ariminus'' which was from the Greek ''Aríminos'' (, which is also the ancient name of Rimini). The source of the river is near Monte dei Frati which is east of P ...
), is . San Marino has no still or contained
bodies of water of any significant size.
It is one of only three countries in the world to be
completely enclosed by another country (the others being
Vatican City
Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—'
* german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ')
* pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—'
* pt, Cidade do Vati ...
, also enclosed by Italy, and
Lesotho, enclosed by South Africa). It is the third smallest country in Europe, after Vatican City and
Monaco
Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...
, and the fifth-smallest country in the world.
The terrestrial ecoregion of
Italian sclerophyllous and semi-deciduous forests
The Italian sclerophyllous and deciduous forests ecoregion, part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, is in Italy. The ecoregion covers most of the Italian Peninsula and includes both evergreen and deciduous forests.
Geogra ...
lies within San Marino's territory.
The country had a 2019
Forest Landscape Integrity Index
The Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII) is an annual global index of forest condition measured by degree of anthropogenic modification. Created by a team of 48 scientists, the FLII, in its measurement of 300m pixels of forest across the globe ...
mean score of 0.01/10, ranking it last globally out of 172 countries.
Climate
San Marino lies between an
oceanic climate and a
humid subtropical climate (
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
: ''Cfb and Cfa''), with some continental influences. It has warm to hot summers and cool winters, typical of inland areas of the central
Italian Peninsula. Precipitation is scattered throughout the year with no real dry month. Snowfalls are common and heavy almost every winter, especially above of elevation.
Government
![Captains Regent Tomassoni, Rossi, Mancini and Selva](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Captains_Regent_Tomassoni%2C_Rossi%2C_Mancini_and_Selva.jpg)
San Marino has the political framework of a
parliamentary
A parliamentary system, or parliamentarian democracy, is a system of democratic governance of a state (or subordinate entity) where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the ...
representative democratic republic: the
captains regent
The Captains Regent (Italian: ''Capitani reggenti'') are the two heads of state of the Republic of San Marino. They are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council, the country's legislative body. Normally the Regents are chosen ...
are both
heads of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
and
heads of government
The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...
, and there is a
pluriform multi-party system
In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in ...
.
Executive power
The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a state.
In political systems b ...
is exercised by the government.
Legislative power
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government.
Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known a ...
is vested in both the government and the
Grand and General Council
The Grand and General Council ( it, Consiglio Grande e Generale) is the parliament of San Marino. The council has 60 members elected for a five-year term.
History
From the fifth century San Marino was ruled by an assembly composed by all t ...
. The
judiciary
The judiciary (also known as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judiciative branch, and court or judiciary system) is the system of courts that adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and applies the law ...
is independent of the executive and the legislature.
San Marino is considered to have the earliest written governing documents still in effect, as the Statutes of 1600 are still at the core of its constitutional framework.
San Marino was originally led by the
Arengo, initially formed from the heads of each family. In the 13th century, power was given to the Grand and General Council. In 1243, the first two captains regent were nominated by the council. Still today, Captains Regent are elected every six months by the council.
The legislature of the republic is the Grand and General Council (). The council is a unicameral legislature with 60 members. There are elections every five years by proportional representation in all nine administrative districts. These districts (townships) correspond to the old
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
es of the republic. All
citizens 18 years or older are eligible to vote.
Besides general legislation, the Grand and General Council approves the budget and elects the captains regent, the State Congress (composed of ten secretaries with executive power), the Council of Twelve (which forms the
judicial branch
The judiciary (also known as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judiciative branch, and court or judiciary system) is the system of courts that adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and applies the law ...
during the period of legislature of the council), the Advising Commissions, and the Government Unions. The council also has the power to ratify treaties with other countries. The council is divided into five different Advising Commissions consisting of fifteen councilors who examine, propose, and discuss the implementation of new laws that are on their way to being presented on the floor of the council.
Every six months, the council elects two captains regent to be the heads of state. The captains are chosen from opposing parties so that there is a balance of power. They serve a six-month term. The investiture of the captains regent takes place on 1 April and 1 October in every year. Once this term is over, citizens have three days in which to file complaints about the captains' activities. If they warrant it, judicial proceedings against the ex-head(s) of state can be initiated.
The practice of having two heads of state, like Roman consuls, chosen in frequent elections, is derived directly from the customs of the
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...
. The council is equivalent to the
Roman Senate
The Roman Senate ( la, Senātus Rōmānus) was a governing and advisory assembly in ancient Rome. It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being established in the first days of the city of Rome (traditionally founded in ...
; the captains regent, to the
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...
s of ancient
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
. It is thought the inhabitants of the area came together as Roman rule collapsed to form a rudimentary government for their own protection from foreign rule.
San Marino is a multi-party democratic republic. A new election law in 2008 raised the threshold for small parties entering Parliament, causing political parties to organise themselves into two alliances: the right-wing
Pact for San Marino
Pact for San Marino ( it, Patto per San Marino) was a centrist coalition of parties for the 2008 general election in San Marino.
It was composed of four lists for a total of eight parties:
{, class=wikitable style=text-align:left
, -
!colspan=2 ...
, led by the
San Marinese Christian Democratic Party
The Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party ( it, Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese, PDCS) is a Christian-democratic political party in San Marino.
The PDCS is an observer member of the European People's Party (EPP), having joined the ...
; and the left-wing
Reforms and Freedom
Reforms and Freedom ( it, Riforme e Libertà) was a left-wing coalition of parties for the 2008 general election in San Marino.
{, class=wikitable style=text-align:left
, -
!colspan=2, Party
!Ideology
!Electoral list
, -
, bgcolor="#E60000" , ...
, led by the
Party of Socialists and Democrats
The Party of Socialists and Democrats ( it, Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici, PSD) is a social-democratic and democratic socialist political party in San Marino. It is a member of the Socialist International, and observer member of the P ...
, a merger of the
Socialist Party of San Marino and the former communist
Party of Democrats
The Party of Democrats ( it, Partito dei Democratici, PD) was a social-democratic and democratic socialist political party in San Marino. Its counterpart in Italy was the Democrats of the Left.
The PD had its origins in Sammarinese Communist Par ...
. The
2008 general election was won by the Pact for San Marino with 35 seats in the Grand and General Council against Reforms and Freedom's 25.
On 1 October 2007,
Mirko Tomassoni was elected as captain regent, making him the first disabled person elected to that office.
San Marino has had more
female heads of state
The following is a list of women who have been elected or appointed head of state or government of their respective countries since the interwar period (1918–1939). The first list includes female President (government title), presidents who a ...
than any other country: 15 as of October 2014, including three who served twice. With regard to the legal profession, while the Order of Lawyers and Notaries of the Republic of San Marino () exists, there is no clear indication as to how demographic groups have fared in the legal field.
On 1 April 2022, 58-year-old Paolo Rondelli was elected as one of the two captains regent, its heads of state. He had previously been the Ambassador to the United States and is the world's first openly gay head of state.
Administrative divisions
Municipalities
![San Marino](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/San_Marino.png)
San Marino is divided into nine
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
, known locally as ' (meaning "castles"):
*
San Marino
San Marino (, ), officially the Republic of San Marino ( it, Repubblica di San Marino; ), also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino ( it, Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino, links=no), is the fifth-smallest country in the world an ...
(City of San Marino, officially ') is the capital.
And eight minor municipalities:
*
Acquaviva
*
Borgo Maggiore
Borgo Maggiore (; rgn, E Bórgh) is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of San Marino. It lies at the foot of Monte Titano and has a population of 6,871 (May 2018), making it the second largest town of San Marino, after Dogana.
Etymology
From ...
*
Chiesanuova
Chiesanuova ( rgn, Cisanòva) is a minor municipality of San Marino. It has a population of 1,143 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 5.46 km2.
Etymology
From Italian ''chiesa'' ("church") + ''nuova'', feminine singular of ''nuovo'' ("new ...
*
Domagnano
Domagnano is a municipality in San Marino. It has 3,565 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 6.62 km2.
Geography
It borders the San Marino municipalities Faetano, Borgo Maggiore, Serravalle and the Italian municipality Coriano.
History
Doma ...
*
Faetano
Faetano is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of San Marino. It has 1,177 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 7.75 km2.
Geography
It borders the Sammarinese municipalities of Montegiardino, Fiorentino, Borgo Maggiore, and Domagnano a ...
*
Fiorentino
Fiorentino is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of the Republic of San Marino. It has 2,548 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of .
Geography
It borders the San Marino municipalities Chiesanuova, San Marino, Borgo Maggiore, Faetano, and Mon ...
*
Montegiardino
Montegiardino is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of San Marino. It has 967 inhabitants (May 2018) in an area of 3.31 km2.
The residences of the University of the Republic of San Marino, the country's only university, are located in Mon ...
*
Serravalle
The largest settlement of the Republic is
Dogana, which is not an autonomous ', but rather belongs to the Castello of
Serravalle.
In a similar way to an Italian ', each ' includes a main settlement, called ', which is the seat of the ', and some even smaller localities known as '.
Curacies
The republic is made up of 43
parishes named ''
curacies
A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy ...
'' ():
Cà Berlone
Cà Berlone, also named Cà Berloni, is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of San Marino.
Geography
It is located under a hill, Monte Cucco (388 m.), near the borders with the municipality of Chiesanuova on ...
,
Cà Chiavello Cà Chiavello is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Faetano.
See also
*Faetano
*Corianino
*Calligaria
*Monte Pulito
Monte Pulito is a small village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the ...
,
Cà Giannino,
Cà Melone Cà Melone is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Borgo Maggiore.
See also
*Borgo Maggiore
* Cà Rigo
*Cailungo
* San Giovanni sotto le Penne
*Valdragone
Valdragone is a village (''curazia'') in central ...
,
Cà Ragni,
Cà Rigo Cà Rigo is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Borgo Maggiore.
See also
*Borgo Maggiore
* Cà Melone
*Cailungo
*San Giovanni sotto le Penne
*Valdragone
*Ventoso
Ventoso is a village (''curazia'') in cent ...
,
Cailungo
Cailungo is a village (''curazia'') in central San Marino
San Marino (, ), officially the Republic of San Marino ( it, Repubblica di San Marino; ), also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino ( it, Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino ...
,
Caladino Caladino is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Chiesanuova.
See also
*Chiesanuova
* Confine
*Galavotto Galavotto is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Chiesanuo ...
,
Calligaria Calligaria is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Faetano.
See also
*Faetano
* Cà Chiavello
*Corianino
*Monte Pulito
Monte Pulito is a small village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to th ...
,
Canepa,
Capanne,
Casole
Casole is a village (''curazia'') in the middle of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of San Marino.
Geography
The village is situated near Murata and close to the borders of Fiorentino.
See also
*San Marino (city)
* Cà Berlone
* Canep ...
,
Castellaro
Castellaro ( lij, Castellâ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, located about southwest of Genoa and about west of Imperia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,083 and an area ...
,
Cerbaiola,
Cinque Vie,
Confine
Confine is a village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the municipality ('' castello'') of Chiesanuova. Its name, in Italian, means "border".
Geography
The village is situated in the southern corner of the state, close to the bo ...
,
Corianino
Corianino is a small village (''curazia'') in eastern San Marino. It belongs to the castle of Faetano.
Geography
Corianino is located in the middle of its castle, on the road between Faetano and Borgo Maggiore.
See also
*Faetano
* Cà Chiavello ...
,
Crociale
Crociale is a village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the municipality ('' castello'') of Fiorentino.
Geography
The village, sometimes named ''Crociale di Fiorentino'', is located between Murata and Fiorentino, on a main road l ...
,
Dogana,
Falciano,
Fiorina,
Galavotto Galavotto is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Chiesanuova.
See also
*Chiesanuova
Chiesanuova ( rgn, Cisanòva) is a minor municipality of San Marino. It has a population of 1,143 inhabitants (May 20 ...
,
Gualdicciolo
Gualdicciolo is a village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the municipality ('' castello'') of Acquaviva and is its most populated parish.
Geography
The village is situated in the western corner of San Marino, close to the borde ...
,
La Serra
La Serra is a small village (''curazia'') in the European republic of San Marino.
Location
This village is located in the northern part of the municipality of Acquaviva, and the only other village in Acquaviva is Gualdicciolo.
Namesake
La Serr ...
,
Lesignano,
Molarini Molarini is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Chiesanuova.
See also
*Chiesanuova
*Caladino
*Confine
*Galavotto Galavotto is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of ...
,
Montalbo
Montalbo is a municipality in the province of Cuenca, part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, in the country of Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg ...
,
Monte Pulito
Monte Pulito is a small village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the castle of Faetano.
History
During the Second World War, between 17 and 20 of September 1944, the hill around Monte Pulito was the site of a battle between the ...
,
Murata,
Pianacci
Pianacci is a small village (''curazia'') of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of Fiorentino.
See also
*Fiorentino
Fiorentino is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of the Republic of San Marino. It has 2,548 inhabitants (May 2018) i ...
,
Piandivello,
Poggio Casalino
Poggio Casalino is a village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the municipality ('' castello'') of Chiesanuova.
Geography
The village is situated in the western border of its municipality, close to the borders with Italy and the m ...
,
Poggio Chiesanuova
Poggio Chiesanuova is a village (''curazia'') located in San Marino. It belongs to the municipality ('' castello'') of Chiesanuova.
Geography
The village is situated in the northern suburb of Chiesanuova, on the road to Acquaviva.
Sport
Close to ...
,
Ponte Mellini,
Rovereta,
San Giovanni sotto le Penne
San Giovanni sotto le Penne is a small village (''curazia'') in central San Marino. It belongs to the castle of Borgo Maggiore.
Geography
It is located south of the country's highest point Monte Titano, on a road bordering to the territory of the ...
,
Santa Mustiola
Santa Mustiola is a village (''curazia'') in the middle of San Marino. It belongs to the municipality of San Marino. Its name derives from a Catholic saint, Mustiola, cousin of the Roman Emperor Claudius II.
Geography
The village is situated unde ...
,
Spaccio Giannoni,
Teglio
Teglio (''Téi'' in Valtellinese dialect) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan and about east of Sondrio, on the border with Switzerland.
The main attract ...
,
Torraccia,
Valdragone
Valdragone is a village (''curazia'') in central San Marino. It belongs to the castello of Borgo Maggiore.
Geography
The village is divided into two areas: Valdragone di Sopra (''Upper V.'') and Valdragone di Sotto (''Lower V.''). It is situated ...
,
and
Ventoso
Ventoso is a village (''curazia'') in central San Marino. It belongs to the castle of Borgo Maggiore. Its name means, in Italian language, ''windy''.
History
The village was an Ancient Roman ''castrum'', known as ''Castrum Ventosi''. It knew a rap ...
.
Military
San Marino's military forces are among the smallest in the world. National defence is, by arrangement, the responsibility of
Italy's armed forces. Different branches have varied functions, including performing ceremonial duties, patrolling borders, mounting guard at government buildings, and assisting police in major criminal cases. The
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...
are not included in the military of San Marino.
Crossbow Corps
Once at the heart of San Marino's army, the Crossbow Corps is now a ceremonial force of approximately 80 volunteers. Since 1295, the Crossbow Corps has provided demonstrations of
crossbow
A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fire ...
shooting at festivals. Its uniform design is medieval. While still a statutory military unit, the Crossbow Corps has no military function today.
Guard of the Rock
![Guardia di Rocca al Palazzo Pubblico San Marino](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Guardia_di_Rocca_al_Palazzo_Pubblico_San_Marino.jpg)
The
Guard of the Rock is a front-line military unit in the San Marino armed forces, a state border patrol, with responsibility for patrolling borders and defending them.
[ In their role as Fortress Guards they are responsible for guarding the Palazzo Pubblico in ]San Marino City
The City of San Marino ( it, Città di San Marino; also known simply as San Marino and locally as Città) is the capital city of the Republic of San Marino. It has a population of 4,061. It is on the western slopes of San Marino's highest poin ...
, the seat of national government.
In this role they are the forces most visible to tourists, and are known for their colourful ceremony of Changing the Guard.[ Under the 1987 statute the Guard of the Rock are all enrolled as "Criminal Police Officers" (in addition to their military role) and assist the police in investigating major crime. The uniform of the Guard of the Rock is a distinctive red and green.][
]
Guard of the Grand and General Council
The Guard of the Grand and General Council commonly known as The Guard of the council or locally as the "Guard of Nobles", formed in 1741,[ is a volunteer unit with ceremonial duties. Due to its striking blue, white, and gold uniform, it is perhaps the best-known part of the Sammarinese military, and appears on countless postcard views of the republic. The functions of the Guard of the council are to protect the ]captains regent
The Captains Regent (Italian: ''Capitani reggenti'') are the two heads of state of the Republic of San Marino. They are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council, the country's legislative body. Normally the Regents are chosen ...
, and to defend the Grand and General Council during its formal sessions. They also act as ceremonial bodyguards to government officials at both state and church festivals.
Company of Uniformed Militia
In former times, all families with two or more adult male members were required to enroll half of them in the Company of Uniformed Militia. This unit remains the basic fighting force of the armed forces of San Marino, but is largely ceremonial. It is a matter of civic pride for many Sammarinese to belong to the force, and all citizens with at least six years residence in the republic are entitled to enroll.
The uniform is dark blue, with a kepi
The kepi ( ) is a cap with a flat circular top and a peak, or visor. In English, the term is a loanword of french: képi, itself a re-spelled version of the gsw, Käppi, a diminutive form of , meaning "cap". In Europe, this headgear is most ...
bearing a blue and white plume. The ceremonial form of the uniform includes a white cross-strap, and white and blue sash, white epaulets, and white decorated cuffs.
Military Ensemble
Formally this is part of the Army Militia,[ and is the ceremonial military band of San Marino. It consists of approximately 60 musicians. The uniform is similar to that of the Army Militia. Military Ensemble music accompanies most state occasions in the republic.
]
Gendarmerie
Established in 1842, the Gendarmerie of San Marino is a militarised law enforcement agency. Its members are full-time and have responsibility for the protection of citizens and property, and the preservation of law and order.
The entire military corps of San Marino depends upon the co-operation of full-time forces and their retained (volunteer) colleagues, known as the , or Voluntary Military Force.
Economy
San Marino is a developed country, and although it is not a European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
member it is allowed to use the euro
The euro ( symbol: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of 19 out of the member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone or, officially, the euro area, and includes about 340 million citizens . ...
as its currency by arrangement with the Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, and informally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven Institutions of the European Union (EU) as ...
; it is also granted the right to use its own designs on the national side of the euro coins
There are eight euro coin denominations, ranging from one cent to two euros (the euro is divided into a hundred cents). The coins first came into use in 2002. They have a common reverse, portraying a map of Europe, but each country in the eurozone ...
. Before the euro, the Sammarinese lira
The lira (plural ''lire''; abbreviation: SML) was the currency of San Marino from the 1860s until it was replaced by the euro on 1 January 2002. It was equivalent and pegged to the Italian lira. Italian coins and banknotes and Vatican City coins ...
was pegged to, and exchangeable with, the Italian lira
The lira (; plural lire) was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. It was first introduced by the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1807 at par with the French franc, and was subsequently adopted by the different states that would eventually ...
. The small number of Sammarinese euro coins
Sammarinese euro coins feature separate designs for every coin. All the coins are inscribed with the words "San Marino" and the twelve stars of the EU. The Sammarinese euro coins are minted by Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS), in R ...
, as was the case with the lira before it, are primarily of interest to coin collectors
Coin collecting is the collecting of coins or other forms of minted legal tender.
Coins of interest to collectors often include those that were in circulation for only a brief time, coins with mint errors, and especially beautiful or historic ...
.
San Marino's per capita GDP and standard of living are comparable to that of Italy. Key industries include bank
A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets.
Because ...
ing, electronics
The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour and effects of electrons using electronic devices. Electronics uses active devices to control electron flow by amplification ...
, and ceramic
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain ...
s. The main agricultural products are wine and cheese. San Marino imports mainly staple goods from Italy.
San Marino's postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the f ...
s, which are valid for mail posted in the country, are mostly sold to philatelists
Philately (; ) is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection and appreciation of stamps and other philatelic products. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting or the study of postage; it is possi ...
and are a significant source of income. San Marino is no longer a member of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation
The Small European Postal Administration Cooperation (SEPAC; also "...Cooperations"; also Small European Postal Administrations Cooperation) is an association of 13 European postal authorities: Åland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Guer ...
.
It has the world's highest rate of car ownership, being one of two countries with more vehicles than people, alongside Andorra
, image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg
, symbol_type = Coat of arms
, national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...
.
Taxation
The corporate profits tax rate in San Marino is 17%, capital gains are subject to a five percent tax, and active interest is subject to an 11% withholding tax
Tax withholding, also known as tax retention, Pay-as-You-Go, Pay-as-You-Earn, Tax deduction at source or a ''Prélèvement à la source'', is income tax paid to the government by the payer of the income rather than by the recipient of the income ...
. Several benefits apply to new businesses, which can strongly reduce the amount of taxes to be paid.
The personal income tax (IGR, ) was introduced in 1984 and it was heavily reformed in 2013 with the goal of increasing fiscal revenue. The nominal tax rate ranges from 9% for an annual revenue below €10,000 to 35% for revenues above €80,000.
In 1972, a value-added tax
A value-added tax (VAT), known in some countries as a goods and services tax (GST), is a type of tax that is assessed incrementally. It is levied on the price of a product or service at each stage of production, distribution, or sale to the en ...
(VAT) system was introduced in Italy, and an equivalent tax was introduced also in San Marino, in accordance with the 1939 friendship treaty. However, this tax is not a standard value-added tax, but rather it is an import tax, thus, it is levied only on imported goods and raw resources. For this reason it is locally best known as single stage tax (), as it is only applied one time during importation, while VAT is applied at every exchange. Furthermore, while VAT also applies to services, the import tax only applies on physical goods. Another important difference is that while VAT is computed on the final price paid by the consumer, the import tax is levied on the importation cost paid by the company, which is generally much lower.
Under the European Union customs agreement, San Marino import tax is considered equivalent to the European VAT system. A separate tax on services, with a rate of 3%, has been introduced in 2011. The introduction of a true VAT system, not dissimilar from the European one, is under development.
Because San Marino's tax rate is lower than surrounding Italy's, many businesses choose to be based in San Marino to avoid the higher rates. San Marino boasts a corporate rate 6% lower than Italy (23%) and 4% lower than the EU average (21.3%). This has made San Marino the tax haven
A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures (regional, local, or n ...
of choice for many wealthy Italians and businesses.
Tourism
The tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...
sector contributes over 22% of San Marino's GDP
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is ofte ...
, with approximately 2 million tourists having visited in 2014.
Conventions with Italy
San Marino and Italy have engaged in conventions since 1862, dictating some economic activities in San Marino's territory.
Cultivation of tobacco and production of goods which are subject to Italy's government monopoly
In economics, a government monopoly or public monopoly is a form of coercive monopoly in which a government agency or government corporation is the sole provider of a particular good or service and competition is prohibited by law. It is a monopo ...
are forbidden in San Marino. Direct import is forbidden; all goods coming from a third party have to travel through Italy before reaching the country. Although it is allowed to print its own postal stamps, San Marino is not allowed to coin its own currency and is obliged to use Italy's mint; the agreement does not affect the right of the Republic of San Marino to continue to issue gold coins denominated in Scudi
The ''scudo'' (pl. ''scudi'') was the name for a number of coins used in various states in the Italian peninsula until the 19th century. The name, like that of the French écu and the Spanish and Portuguese escudo, was derived from the Latin ''s ...
(the legal value of 1 gold Scudo is 37.50 euros). Gambling is legal and regulated; however, casinos were outlawed prior to 2007. There is one legally operating casino.
In exchange for these limitations, Italy provides San Marino with an annual stipend, provided at cost, of sea salt (not more than 250 tonnes per year), tobacco (40 tonnes), cigarettes (20 tonnes) and matches (unlimited amount).
At the border there are no formalities with Italy. However, at the tourist office visitors can purchase officially cancelled souvenir stamps for their passports.
Population
Demographics
San Marino has a population of approximately 33,000, with 4,800 foreign residents, most of whom are Italian citizens. Another 12,000 Sammarinese live abroad (5,700 in Italy, 3,000 in the US, 1,900 in France and 1,600 in Argentina).
The first census since 1976 was conducted in 2010. Results were expected by the end of 2011; however, 13% of families did not return their forms.
The primary language spoken is Italian; Romagnol is also widely spoken.
Notable people
* Giovanni Battista Belluzzi
Giovanni Battista Belluzzi (1506–1554), also known as Giovanni Battista di Bartolomeo Bellucci and as Il Sanmarino, was a Sammarinese architect and military engineer. He was born in San Marino on September 27, 1506 and at 18 years of age was sen ...
(1506 in San Marino – 1554) an architect
* Francesco Maria Marini (di Pesaro) (1630–1686), a composer, playwright, and Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
archbishop
* Antonio Onofri (1759–1825), statesman, "Father of his Country."
* Little Tony (1941 in Tivoli – 2013), a pop and rock musician
* Pasquale Valentini
Pasquale Valentini (born 19 July 1953) is a Sammarinese politician who has held multiple ministerial posts.
Early life
Pasquale was born in San Marino on 19 July 1953. He obtained a high school diploma from San Marino before graduating in mathe ...
(born 1953 in San Marino), a politician who has held multiple ministerial posts
* Massimo Bonini
Massimo Bonini (born 13 October 1959) is a Sammarinese former professional football player and coach, who played as a midfielder for Italian sides Bellaria Igea, Forlì, Cesena, Juventus and Bologna.
His greatest achievements in club football ...
(born 1959 in San Marino), a football player who played for Juventus
* Marco Macina (born 1964 in San Marino), a footballer who played for Bologna FC, Parma
Parma (; egl, Pärma, ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, music, art, prosciutto (ham), cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,292 inhabitants, Parma is the second mos ...
, Reggiana and AC Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan (), commonly referred to as AC Milan or simply Milan, is a professional football club in Milan, Italy, founded in 1899. The club has spent its entire history, with the exception of the 1980–81 and 1982–83 seaso ...
.
* Valentina Monetta
Valentina Monetta (born 1 March 1975) is a Sammarinese singer. She is best known for representing in the , , , and Eurovision Song Contests. She also announced the Sammarinese points at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. In the 2014 contest, M ...
(born 1975 in San Marino), a singer who represented San Marino four times in the Eurovision Song Contest
* Manuel Poggiali
Manuel Poggiali (; born 14 February 1983) is a Sammarinese Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion. He was the 2001 125cc World Champion, and the 2003 250cc World Champion. He scored 12 race wins, 11 pole positions, and 35 podium fini ...
(born 1983 in San Marino), a Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion
* Alex De Angelis
Alex de Angelis (born 26 February 1984) is a Sammarinese retired motorcycle road racer.
Career
125cc World Championship
Born in Rimini, de Angelis made his debut at world championship level in 1999 in the 125 cc class; his first full season was ...
(born 1984 in Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
), a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer
* Alessandra Perilli
Alessandra Perilli (born April 1, 1988) is a Sammarinese professional target shooter. Her hometown is Borgo Maggiore. She finished 4th after a draw for 2nd place with a French and a Slovakian shooter in the Women's trap at the 2012 Summer Olymp ...
(born 1988 in Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
), shooting Olympic silver and bronze medalist and first San Marino citizen to ever win a medal (Tokyo 2020
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the ...
)
* Gian Marco Berti (born 1982 in San Marino), shooting Olympic silver medalist and second San Marino citizen to win a medal (Tokyo 2020
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the ...
)
* Myles Nazem Amine (born 1996 in Dearborn, Michigan), 2020 86 kg wrestling Olympic bronze medalist and third San Marino citizen to win a medal (Tokyo 2020
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the ...
)
Religion
San Marino is a predominantly Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
state, though Catholicism is not an established religion
A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular, is not necessarily a ...
. Over 97% of the population profess the Catholic faith, and approximately half of those regularly attend church. There is no episcopal see in San Marino, although its name is part of the present diocesan title. Historically, the various parishes in San Marino were divided between two Italian diocese
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associa ...
s, mostly in the Diocese of Montefeltro
The Italian Catholic Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro was until 1977 the historic Diocese of Montefeltro. It is a Latin suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.[Diocese of Rimini
The Diocese of Rimini ( la, Dioecesis Ariminensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Emilia Romagna, Italy. From earliest times, it was a suffragan to the Holy See, despite repeated attempts by the D ...]
. In 1977, the border between Montefeltro
Montefeltro is a historical and geographical region in Marche, which was historically part of Romagna. It gave its name to the Montefeltro family, who ruled in the area during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Regions of Italy
Overview
Montef ...
and Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
was readjusted so that all of San Marino fell within the diocese of Montefeltro. The bishop of Montefeltro-San Marino
The Italian Catholic Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro was until 1977 the historic Diocese of Montefeltro. It is a Latin suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.[Pennabilli
Pennabilli ( rgn, La Pénna) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rimini in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about southeast of Bologna and about south of Rimini. In 2019, the podcast '' This is Love'' spoke with Anna Bo ...]
, in Italy's province of Pesaro e Urbino
The Province of Pesaro and Urbino ( it, Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino, ) is a province in the Marche region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pesaro. It also borders the state of San Marino. The province is surrounded by San Marino and Emili ...
. The country's high Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
majority can mainly be brought back to the country's founding, where Saint Marinus
Saint Marinus (; it, San Marino) was an Early Christian and the founder of a chapel and monastery in 301 from whose initial community the state of San Marino later grew.
Life
Tradition holds that he was a stonemason by trade who came from the ...
set up the first fortress to protect Christians from Roman persecution. The small state's culture has primarily remained Catholic ever since.
There is a provision under the income tax rules that taxpayers have the right to request the allocation of 0.3% of their income tax to the Catholic Church or to charities.
The Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro was until 1977 the historic diocese of Montefeltro. It is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia
The Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia ( la, Archidioecesis Ravennatensis-Cerviensis) is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.[parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...]
es of San Marino. The earliest mention of Montefeltro
Montefeltro is a historical and geographical region in Marche, which was historically part of Romagna. It gave its name to the Montefeltro family, who ruled in the area during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Regions of Italy
Overview
Montef ...
, as ''Mona Feretri'', is in the diplomas by which Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first ...
confirmed the donation of Pepin
The Donation of Pepin in 756 provided a legal basis for the creation of the Papal States, thus extending the temporal rule of the popes beyond the duchy of Rome.
Background
In 751, Aistulf, king of the Lombards, conquered what remained of the ex ...
. The first known bishop of Montefeltro was Agatho (826), whose residence was at San Leo
San Leo ( rgn, San Lé) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Rimini in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about southeast of Bologna and about southwest of Rimini.
Geography
San Leo borders the following municipalities: ...
. Under Bishop Flaminios Dondi (1724) the see was again transferred to San Leo, but later it returned to Pennabilli. The historic diocese was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Urbino
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασι ...
. Since 1988, there is formally an apostolic nunciature to the republic, but it is vested in the nuncio to Italy.
Other faiths include the Waldensian Church
The Waldensian Evangelical Church (''Chiesa Evangelica Valdese'', CEV) is a Protestant denomination active in Italy and Switzerland that was independent until it united with the Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy in the Union of Methodist and ...
and Jehovah's Witnesses.
There has been a Jew
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...
ish presence in San Marino for at least 600 years. The first mention of Jews in San Marino dates to the late 14th century, in official documents recording the business transactions of Jews. There are many documents throughout the 15th to 17th centuries describing Jewish dealings and verifying the presence of a Jewish community in San Marino. Jews were permitted official protection by the government.
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, San Marino provided a haven for more than 100,000 Jews and other Italians (approximately 10 times the Sammarinese population at the time) from Nazi
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
persecution. , few Jews remain. In 2019, a building was inaugurated as the 'Chapel of three religions', the first-ever building of its kind devoted to interfaith dialogue.
Transport
There are of roads in the country, the main road being the San Marino Highway. Authorities license private vehicles with distinctive Sammarinese license plates, which are white with blue figures and the coat of arms, usually a letter followed by up to four numbers. Many vehicles also carry the international vehicle identification code (in black on a white oval sticker), which is "RSM".
There are no public airports in San Marino, but there is a small private airstrip located in Torraccia. Most tourists who arrive by air land at Federico Fellini International Airport
Federico Fellini International Airport ( it, Aeroporto Internazionale di Rimini e San Marino 'Federico Fellini'; ), formerly ''Rimini Miramare Airport'', is an international airport located at Miramare di Rimini, Miramare, southeast of Rimini, ...
(close to the Italian city of Rimini
Rimini ( , ; rgn, Rémin; la, Ariminum) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It sprawls along the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia (the ancient ''Ariminu ...
), then make the transfer by bus.
Two rivers flow through San Marino, but there is no major water transport, and no port or harbour.
Public transport
San Marino public transport comprises eight local bus lines entirely within San Marino. Cross-border connection to Rimini is available across a highway bridge in Rovereta.
There is a regular bus service between Rimini and the city of San Marino that is popular with both tourists and workers commuting to San Marino from Italy. This service stops at approximately 20 locations in Rimini and within San Marino, with its two terminus stops at Rimini railway station
Rimini railway station ( it, Stazione di Rimini) is the main station serving the city and '' comune'' of Rimini, in the region of Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. Opened in 1861, it forms part of the Bologna–Ancona railway, and is also a t ...
and San Marino coach station.
A limited licensed taxi service operates nationwide. There are seven licensed taxi companies operating in the republic, and Italian taxis regularly operate within San Marino when carrying passengers picked up in Italian territory.
There is a aerial tramway connecting the City of San Marino
The City of San Marino ( it, Città di San Marino; also known simply as San Marino and locally as Città) is the capital city of the Republic of San Marino. It has a population of 4,061. It is on the western slopes of San Marino's highest poi ...
on top of Monte Titano
Monte Titano ("Mount Titan") is a mountain of the Apennines and the highest peak in San Marino. It stands above sea level and is located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 20 ...
with Borgo Maggiore
Borgo Maggiore (; rgn, E Bórgh) is one of the 9 communes or ''castelli'' of San Marino. It lies at the foot of Monte Titano and has a population of 6,871 (May 2018), making it the second largest town of San Marino, after Dogana.
Etymology
From ...
, a major town in the republic, with the second largest population of any Sammarinese settlement. From here a further connection is available to the nation's largest settlement, Dogana, via the local bus service.
Two aerial tramway cars (gondolas) operate, with service provided at roughly 15-minute intervals throughout the day. A third vehicle is available on the system, a service car for the use of engineers maintaining the tramway.
Railway
Today, there is no railway in San Marino, but for a short period before World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, it had a single narrow-gauge line called the Ferrovia Rimini–San Marino which connected the country with the Italian rail network at Rimini. Because of the difficulties in accessing the capital, City of San Marino, with its mountain-top location, the terminus station was planned to be located in the village of Valdragone
Valdragone is a village (''curazia'') in central San Marino. It belongs to the castello of Borgo Maggiore.
Geography
The village is divided into two areas: Valdragone di Sopra (''Upper V.'') and Valdragone di Sotto (''Lower V.''). It is situated ...
, but was extended to reach the capital through a steep and winding track comprising many tunnels. The railway was opened on 12 June 1932.
An advanced system for its time, it was an electric railway, powered from overhead cables. It was well built and had a high frequency of passengers, but was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Many facilities such as bridges, tunnels, and stations remain visible today, and some have been converted to parks, public footpaths, or traffic routes. Debate continues on whether the line should be restored, as Rimini is the nearest bigger city and has access to the Adriatic sea, the Italian railway network, and the Federico Fellini International Airport
Federico Fellini International Airport ( it, Aeroporto Internazionale di Rimini e San Marino 'Federico Fellini'; ), formerly ''Rimini Miramare Airport'', is an international airport located at Miramare di Rimini, Miramare, southeast of Rimini, ...
.
Culture
The Three Towers of San Marino
The Three Towers of San Marino are a group of towers located in San Marino. Located on the three peaks of Monte Titano in the capital, also called San Marino, they are depicted on both the national flag and coat of arms
A coat of arms is a ...
are located on the three peaks of Monte Titano
Monte Titano ("Mount Titan") is a mountain of the Apennines and the highest peak in San Marino. It stands above sea level and is located immediately to the east of the capital, San Marino. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 20 ...
in the capital. They are depicted on both the flag of San Marino
The state and war flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) with a c ...
and its coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
. The three towers are: ''Guaita
Guaita is one of three towered peaks overlooking the city of San Marino, the capital of San Marino. The other two are Cesta and Montale.
Fortress of Guaita
The Guaita fortress is the oldest of the three towers constructed on Monte Titano, and ...
'', the oldest of the three (it was constructed in the 11th century); the 13th-century ''Cesta
De La Fratta, also known as Cesta, is one of three towered peaks overlooking the city of San Marino, the capital of San Marino. The other two are Guaita and Montale.
Overview
The tower is located on the highest of Monte Titano's summits. A ...
'', located on the highest of Monte Titano's summits; and the 14th-century ''Montale
Montale is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pistoia in the Italian region Tuscany, located about northwest of Florence and about east of Pistoia.
Montale borders the following municipalities: Agliana, Cantagallo, Montemurlo, Pi ...
'', on the smallest of Monte Titano's summits, still privately owned.
University
The (University of the Republic of San Marino
The University of the Republic of San Marino (in Italian: ''Università degli Studi della Repubblica di San Marino'') is a university based in the Republic of San Marino. It was created in 1985, but it started its activities with the Scuola Supe ...
) is the main university, which includes the ''Scuola Superiore di Studi Storici di San Marino The Scuola Superiore di Studi Storici di San Marino (Graduate School of Historical Studies at San Marino), founded in 1988, is a doctorate-awarding centre for research and study in history and related humanities, with a strong international characte ...
'' (Graduate School of Historical Studies), a distinguished research and advanced international study centre governed by an international Scientific Committee coordinated by the emeritus historian Luciano Canfora
Luciano Canfora (; born 5 June 1942) is an Italian classicist and historian. Born in Bari, Canfora obtained his first degree in Roman History in 1964 at Pisa University. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Classics at the University of Bari. Hi ...
. Other important institutes are the (Sammarinese Musical Institute) and the Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino
The International Academy of Sciences San Marino ( eo, Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino, AIS) was a scientific association. It was established in 1983 and had its first convention, SUS 1, around New Year 1984 in the City of San Marino ...
or (International Academy of Sciences San Marino). The latter is known for adopting Esperanto as the language for teaching and for scientific publications; further, it makes wide use of electronic educational technology (also called e-learning).
Italian author Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco (5 January 1932 – 19 February 2016) was an Italian medievalist, philosopher, semiotician, novelist, cultural critic, and political and social commentator. In English, he is best known for his popular 1980 novel ''The Name of th ...
had attempted to create a "university without physical structures" in San Marino.
Sport
In San Marino football is the most popular sport. Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
and volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Sum ...
are also popular. The three sports have their own federations, the San Marino Football Federation
The San Marino Football Federation (FSGC) ( it, Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio) is the governing body of football in San Marino. It organises the San Marino football league ( Campionato Sammarinese), a national cup (Coppa Titano), a supe ...
, the San Marino Basketball Federation and the San Marino Volleyball Federation.
The San Marino national football team
The San Marino national football team ( it, Nazionale di calcio di San Marino) represents San Marino in men's international association football competitions. The team is controlled by the San Marino Football Federation and represents the sma ...
has had little success, being made up of part-timers, such as local plumbers and farmers. Never qualifying for a major tournament, and recording only one win in over 25 years of its history, a 1–0 victory in 2004 against Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarch ...
. They have drawn four more, with their most notable result being a 1993 0–0 draw with Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
during the European qualifiers for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In the same qualifying competition Davide Gualtieri scored a goal 8.3 seconds into a match against England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
; this goal held the record for the fastest in international football until 2016. San Marino has a club in the Italian league system called A.S.D.V. San Marino and a domestic amateur league, the Campionato Sammarinese, whose teams also participate in European club competitions. Together with Italy, San Marino held the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, with teams playing at the Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle. With Italy being the sole automatic qualifiers, the Sammarinese team was not participating in the final tournament.
A Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
race, the San Marino Grand Prix
The San Marino Grand Prix () was a Formula One championship race which was run at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the town of Imola, near the Apennine mountains in Italy, between 1981 and 2006. It was named after nearby S ...
, was named after the state, although it did not take place there. Instead, it was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the Italian town of Imola
Imola (; rgn, Jômla or ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, located on the river Santerno, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The city is traditionally considered the western entrance to the historical ...
, about northwest of San Marino. Roland Ratzenberger
Roland Ratzenberger (; 4 July 1960 – 30 April 1994) was an Austrian racing driver who raced in various categories of motorsport, including British Formula 3000, Japanese Formula 3000 and Formula One. Having had sporadic success throughout t ...
and Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva (; 21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in , , and . Senna is one of three Formula One drivers from Brazil to win the World Championship and ...
suffered fatal accidents a day apart during the 1994 Grand Prix. This international event was removed from the calendar in 2007, although the circuit has since returned to the calendar as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The San Marino and Rimini's Coast motorcycle Grand Prix
The San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season. The name of the race is a misnomer as the race has always taken place in Italy, but because there is already an Italian motor ...
was reinstated in the schedule in 2007 and takes place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
The Misano World Circuit (officially known as Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli or Misano Circuit Sic 58, and before 2006 called Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica) is a race track located next to the town of Misano Adriatico (Province of ...
, as does San Marino's round of the World Superbike Championship
Superbike World Championship (also known as WorldSBK, SBK, World Superbike, WSB, or WSBK) is a silhouette-class road racing series based on heavily modified production motorcycles, also known as superbike racing.
The championship was founded i ...
.
San Marino has a professional baseball team which plays in Italy's top division. It has participated in the European Cup tournament for the continent's top club sides several times, hosting the event in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2007. It won the championship in 2006, 2011 and 2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
.
Shooting is also very popular in San Marino, with many shooters having taken part in international competitions and the Olympic Games
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...
. San Marino is also the smallest country to have ever won an Olympic medal
An Olympic medal is awarded to successful competitors at one of the Olympic Games. There are three classes of medal to be won: gold, silver, and bronze, awarded to first, second, and third place, respectively. The granting of awards is laid o ...
, having won one silver and a bronze in shooting in the 2020 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and also known as , was an international multi-sport event held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on 21 July.
Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 1 ...
in Tokyo. Despite their small population, they got their silver in a team event losing the gold medal match to Spain 41–40.
Cuisine
The cuisine of San Marino is extremely similar to Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
, especially that of the adjoining Emilia-Romagna
egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title ...
and Marche regions, but it has a number of its own unique dishes and products. Its best known is probably the '' Torta Tre Monti'' ("Cake of the Three Mountains" or "Cake of the Three Towers"), a wafer layered cake covered in chocolate depicting the Three Towers of San Marino
The Three Towers of San Marino are a group of towers located in San Marino. Located on the three peaks of Monte Titano in the capital, also called San Marino, they are depicted on both the national flag and coat of arms
A coat of arms is a ...
. The country also has a small wine
Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
industry.
UNESCO
The site San Marino: Historic Centre and Mount Titano became part of the UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage List in 2008. The decision was taken during the 32nd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance ...
composed of 21 Countries convened in Québec, Canada.
Music
The country has a long and rich musical tradition, closely linked to that of Italy, but which is also highly independent in itself. A well-known 17th-century composer is Francesco Maria Marini. The pop singer Little Tony achieved considerable success in the United Kingdom and Italy in the 1950s and 1960s.
San Marino
San Marino (, ), officially the Republic of San Marino ( it, Repubblica di San Marino; ), also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino ( it, Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino, links=no), is the fifth-smallest country in the world an ...
has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times, achieving three final qualifications to date (with then-three, eventually four-time contestant and San Marino native Valentina Monetta
Valentina Monetta (born 1 March 1975) is a Sammarinese singer. She is best known for representing in the , , , and Eurovision Song Contests. She also announced the Sammarinese points at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. In the 2014 contest, M ...
with " Maybe" in 2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
, Turkish singer Serhat Serhat is a Turkish given name for males. People named Serhat include:
* Serhat Akın (born 1981), Turkish footballer
* Serhat Akyüz (born 1984), Turkish footballer
* Serhat Caradee, Turkish-Australian film director
* Serhat Çetin (born 1986), T ...
with "Say Na Na Na
"Say Na Na Na" is a 2019 single by Turkish singer Serhat. The song represented San Marino after being internally selected by (SMRTV), the Sanmarinese national broadcaster. The song was released on 7 March 2019. It finished 19th in the Grand Fina ...
" who achieved 19th place in the final in 2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
and Italian singer Senhit
The Provinces of Eritrea existed between Eritrea's incorporation as a colony of Italy until the conversion of the provinces into administrative regions.
Overview
In Italian Eritrea, the Italian colonial administration had divided the colony into e ...
along with American rapper Flo Rida who qualified for the 2021
File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October 2021 coup in Sudan; Crowd shortly after t ...
final with the song " Adrenalina").
Public holidays and festivals
See also
* The Catholic Guide and Scout Association of San Marino
The Associazione Guide Esploratori Cattolici Sammarinesi (AGECS, ''Sanmarinese Catholic Guide and Scout Association'') is the national Scouting and Guiding association of San Marino. Scouting and Guiding in San Marino started within the respectiv ...
* City-state
A city-state is an independent sovereign city which serves as the center of political, economic, and cultural life over its contiguous territory. They have existed in many parts of the world since the dawn of history, including cities such as ...
* Index of San Marino–related articles
* Outline of San Marino
* Postage stamps and postal history of San Marino
The postal history of San Marino can be traced to October 7, 1607, with the introduction of public postal services. The republic's postal needs were handled by a post office in nearby Rimini, Italy; the first San Marino post office opened in 1833. ...
* Telecommunications in San Marino
This article provides an outline of the telecommunications infrastructure in San Marino.
Telephone Landline telephone providers
* San Marino Telecom (SMT)
* Telenet
* TIM San Marino (TIM)
Mobile network operators
* San Marino Telecom ( ...
* Order of San Marino and Order of Saint Agatha
The Order of Saint Agatha ( it, Ordine Equestre di Sant'Agata) is a State order established on 5 June 1923 by the Grand and General Council of the Republic of San Marino. It is named after Saint Agatha, on whose feast day 5 February, Pope Clement ...
References
External links
San Marino
The CIA
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...
World Factbook
''The World Factbook'', also known as the ''CIA World Factbook'', is a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. The official print version is available ...
country profile
San Marino country profile
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Economic Development Agency website portal
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