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Fortress of Guaita 2013-09-19-by Max_Ryazanov-

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about San Marino, Italy

San Marino, commonly known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, is a tiny nation in Southern Europe that is surrounded by Italy.

It is situated on the northeastern edge of the Apennine Mountains covering a land area of just over 61 km² and has a population of 33,562.

The largest community in the nation is Dogana, which is a part of Serravalle, the largest municipality, while the City of San Marino, the nation’s capital, is perched on Monte Titano.

Italian is the official language of San Marino. The country derives its name from Saint Marinus, a stonemason from the then-Roman island of Rab in modern-day Croatia.

The Grand and General Council, San Marino’s democratically elected legislature, is required by its constitution to choose two presidents of state every six months.

The two heads of state referred to as captains regent, hold equal authority for the duration of their six-month terms and serve concurrently.

The key economic pillars of the nation are finance, business, services, and tourism.

With a GDP per capita similar to the most developed European regions, it is one of the wealthiest nations in the world.

Here are 10 fascinating facts about San Marino.

1. The country derives its name from Saint Marinus, a stonemason

Saint Marinus Painting-by Japan Post-

Saint Marinus left the island of Rab in modern-day Croatia, together with his lifelong buddy Leo and relocated to the city of Rimini to work as a stonemason.

He fled to the adjacent Monte Titano after the Diocletianic Persecution that followed his Christian preaching.

While in Titano, he established a tiny church and laid the groundwork for what is today the city and state of San Marino. 

2. San Marino dates back before the medieval times

The precise date of establishment is September 3, 301 CE, by Saint Marinus.

The city-state has maintained its independence for a long time and has weathered numerous crises, including barbarian invasions, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Italian Reunification.

The citizens take great pride in the fact that they are the only Italian City-State to still be autonomous today.

3. It is a wealthy nation but not a costly one

City of San Marino in 2019.69-by CAPTAIN RAJU-

San Marino’s extremely rich history, which reaches back to before the Middle Ages, is comparable to that of other micronations like Luxembourg, Andorra, Lichtenstein, and Monaco.

You should anticipate very high prices because the economy is on a par with that of Italy, but you’ll be surprised to see that food and transportation are actually very affordable.

A bus ride from Rimini to San Marino costs 4.5 euros each way while a scoop of ice cream and a slice of pizza cost 1 euro each.

4. It is one of the smallest nations in the world

The city of San Marino in 2019.107-by CAPTAIN RAJU-

Geographically, San Marino is the fifth-smallest country in the world, behind Monaco and the Vatican’s city-states, and the island nations of Tuvalu and Nauru.

Only 33,562 people live in San Marino, which has a land area of just over 61 km2 (24 sq mi).

5. It was subjected to many invasions over the centuries

San Marino Has never lost an invasion but has always been able to retain its independence.

Cesare Borgia made unsuccessful attempts to conquer it in the 1500s and 1700s, and it even managed to resist joining the Papal State.

Fortunately, San Marino was a political entity with a republican government when the Napoleonic armies arrived in the 18th century.

They preserved its autonomy and even gave it economic concessions. The three recognizable towers of the old town, which are also depicted on the flag, serve as a symbol of the Republic’s tenacity.

6. San Marino is the least visited country in Europe

San Marino was named the “Least Visited Country in Europe” in 2017 when only 60,000 foreign visitors came.

7. It is divided into nine municipalities

San Marino San Marino-by Aliman5040-

The following nine municipalities also referred to as Castelli meaning “castles” locally, make up San Marino.

San Marino is the nation’s capital also known as Citta di San Marino. Additionally, there are eight minor municipalities.

Chiesanuova, Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Domagnano,Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, and Serravalle.

Dogana, the largest settlement in the Republic, is a part of the Castello of Serravalle and is not an independent Castello.

Similar to an Italian comune, each Castello consists of a capoluogo, the Castello’s administrative center, as well as a few smaller communities called frazioni.

8. San Marino is considered to have the oldest written constitutions in the world

It is thought that San Marino has the oldest written governmental documents that are still in force since the Statutes of 1600 still serve as the foundation of its political structure.

Since there is academic disagreement over whether numerous texts may be regarded as constitutions, a sizable intellectual faction contends that the US constitution is the oldest constitution still in force.

9. San Marino is a multi-party democratic republic

City of San Marino in 2019.89-by CAPTAIN RAJU-

In 2008, a new election law raised the threshold for small parties entering Parliament, forcing political parties to organize themselves into two alliances.

The right-wing Pact for San Marino, led by the San Marinese Christian Democratic Party, and the left-wing Reforms and Freedom, led by the Party of Socialists and Democrats.

The Pact for San Marino won the 2008 general election with 35 seats in the Grand and General Council to Reforms and Freedom’s 25 seats.

10. It had the highest death rate due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects, San Marino had the greatest death rate per capita of any nation as of June 2020.

In April 2021, the nation received headlines for using the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine rather than vaccines approved by the EU following a slow rollout of the last vaccines.

San Marino is the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world.  It is not a member of the EU or Eurozone although it uses the Euro as its currency.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, it became the smallest country to earn a medal, as Alessandra Perilli and Gian Marco Berti won silver in the mixed trap shooting event.

During the Russia-Ukraine War, the Russian Kremlin released a list of countries, that it considered “unfriendly” to Russia and San Marino was included in the list.