San Marino

Capital of San Marino: San Marino
Population of San Marino: 31,817
Total area of San Marino: 61 km2

San Marino is a tiny country located in south central Europe. It is also called the Republic of San Marino. Its flag is white on top and turquoise on the bottom. The center of the flag is its emblem which is yellow and consists of a U-shaped band of leaves, the word “Libertas” on the bottom, three castles in the middle and a crown on the top.

San Marino population

The population is only about 30,000, of which a thousand are foreigners, usually Italian. Five thousand Sammarinese live elsewhere in parts of the world, mostly in Italy. Its primary language is Italian but some people speak Emiliono-Romagnolo. The citizens live a long time—one of the longest in the world. More than 97 percent of the population is Catholic but there is no state religion. The people of San Marino can allocate 0.3 percent of their taxes to the Catholic Church or other charities. Jews have lived in San Marino since the last 600 years.  

History of San Marino

It is the oldest surviving sovereignty in Europe. It was founded in 301 CE. The country was relatively inaccessible so it didn’t get invaded regularly. In 1631, it was recognized by the Pope as a sovereign nation. It even escaped invasion by Napoleon. It became a refuge for people leaving Italy in the 1800s due to persecution. It was a neutral country in WWI. It was under the control of the Sammarinese Fascist party until 1943. It was a neutral country in WWII but was briefly occupied by the Germans in 1944. It is currently the world’s smallest republic country with a land mass of 32 square kilometers. It is a member of the United Nations but not of the European Union.

San Marino Tourism

San Marino has an estimated 2 million visits every year. The typical tourists who visit this country are those on a holiday in the Romagna Riviera. Within the borders of Italy, this small country is a small slice of paradise. The Romagna Riviera, the Central Apennine Mountains, the cathedrals, the museums and other landmarks create a cultural getaway for travelers from all over the world. With only a total area of 24 square miles, San Marino has managed to grab international attention because of its luxury holidays, designer outlets and overall cultural appeal. Did you know that San Marino is said to be the oldest republic in the world? Ironically, it has managed to stay independent all these years because of its small size! It is a beautiful country situated on Monte Titano, north of the famous Italy. From afar, the walls of the fortress which are situated on a hill appear to be like a regal glass crown.

In San Marino, food is a very important aspect of the people’s daily life. Generally, the country is characterized by Mediterranean cuisine that favors naturally grown produce from the local farms. The dishes of San Marino are similar to the rest of the Italian region but it prides itself with its own unique local dishes such as the traditional faggioli con le cotiche (dark bean soup with bacon) during Christmas, the pasta e cece (chickpeas and noodle soup with rosemary), nidi di rondine (baked pasta dish) and the popular roasted rabbit with fennel.