San Marino, officially known as the Republic of San Marino (Italian: Repubblica di San Marino) and also known as The Most Serene Republic of San Marino (Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino), is a delightful little Southern European enclave in Italy. It is the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, as the continuation of the monastic community founded on September 3, 301, by Marinus note , a stonemason-turned-monk from Arba (modern-day Rab, Croatia). Its constitution, ratified in 1600, is the oldest of its kind still in effect. The next-oldest is the U.S. Constitution, some 189 years younger.
San Marino survived the consolidation of Italy into medium-sized territorial states in the 15th century, the reorganization of Italy following The Napoleonic Wars, and the unification of Italy in the 19th century, owing to (respectively) its remote location in a valley of the Apennines, not accepting Napoléon Bonaparte's offers to extend their territory, and as a token of gratitude from leaders of the unification movement for offering them shelter in times of crisis. It is too small (about 60 sq.km with a little more than 30,000 residents) and too remote to cause anyone much trouble - and it is also too small and remote for anyone to give it much trouble, so, while, by custom, the appellation "Most Serene" is an indicator of sovereignty, it also applies in a more literal sense. It managed to remain neutral throughout the two world wars (though somehow someone reported San Marino had seen fit to declare war on the United Kingdom in 1940).
During World War II, San Marino provided a safe harbor for over 100,000 Italians (ten times more than there were Sammarinese at the time) and Jews from Nazi persecution. That's right, San Marino pulled a move that could risk angering Nazi Germany and still managed to stay neutral. No wonder its citizens are proud of it. Though, it didn't stop the Nazis or the Allies disrespecting its neutrality status; especially when the former managed to fortify the borders of this nation - which ran through the Gothic Line at the time - which led the Allies to conduct a 3-day battle
to completely remove it for good.
San Marino abolished the death penalty in 1865, becoming the second European country, after the Grand Duchy of Tuscany who abolished it in 1786, to do so. The last execution was performed in 1468.
The country is led by two Captains Regent, or prime ministers, if you please. They are not that much different from the old Roman consuls. They are chosen every six months.
There was once a San Marino Grand Prix - held in Imola, Italy, which was infamous for its 1994 runningnote . Motorcycle racing also has its own San Marino Grand Prix, the somewhat indicative San Marino and Rimini's Coast motorcycle Grand Prix, which as the name said, it's held in Rimini - specifically, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Also, San Marino became the smallest country to ever win a medal at the Olympic Games when Alessandra Perilli won a bronze medal in women's trap shooting at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
San Marino is not a member of the EU or EFTA, but maintains a customs union and an open border policy with Italy, which means anyone who can enter Italy have the right to enter San Marino.
The Sammarinese Flag
Coat of arms of San Marino
, the country's highest point, whose three summits are topped by the towers of Guaita, Cesta and Montale, each decorated with a weather vane shaped like an ostrich feather; on either side of the shield are oak and laurel branches, symbolizing national stability and the defense of San Marino's sovereignty, respectively, and below is the national motto: "Libertas" ("Freedom" in Latin).
The Sammarinese national anthem
Government
- Unitary assembly-independent diarchic directorial republic
- Captains Regent: Filippo Tamagnini and Gaetano Troina
Miscellaneous
- Capital: San Marino
- Largest settlement: Dogana
- Population: 33,600
- Area: 61.2 sq km (23.6 sq mi) (190th)
- Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)
- ISO-3166-1 Code: SM
- Country calling code: 378
- While San Marino has its own country code, it's also integrated into the Italian phone network. The following phone numbers are thus equivalent:
0549 xxx xxx (from Italy [also Vatican City])+378 xxx xxx (from the rest of the world)+39 0549 xxx xxx (from the rest of the world, using the Italian country code)+378 0549 xxx xxx (from the rest of the world, using the San Marino country code and the Italian area code) - Highest point: Monte Titano (755 m/2,477 ft) (172nd)
- Lowest point: Ausa River (55 m/180 ft) (48th)
