San Marino

San Marino, officially known as the Republic of San Marino, is a unique landlocked country in Southern Europe.

It is an enclave, meaning it is completely surrounded by the country of Italy.

The nation sits on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains. Most of its terrain is hilly with very little flat ground. The highest point is the summit of Monte Titano. The capital city, also named San Marino, sits atop this mountain.

As of 2025, the population is 34,042 people. The total land area is just over 61 square kilometers. This makes it the fifth-smallest country in the world.

The government of San Marino uses a rare constitutional structure. The Grand and General Council is the democratically elected legislature. This council selects two heads of state called the Captains Regent. These two leaders serve concurrently and hold equal powers. They are chosen every six months from opposing political parties. This system ensures balance within the state institutions. Only the Federal Council of Switzerland uses a similar structure. However, Switzerland uses seven heads of state with different responsibilities.

San Marino claims to be the oldest extant sovereign state. It also claims to be the oldest constitutional republic. Legend says it was founded in AD 301 by Saint Marinus.

He was a stonemason from the island of Rab. After facing persecution, he moved to Monte Titano. There, he reportedly established a monastic community and built a small church. While some historians call these accounts a mixture of fables and miracles, they contain grains of fact. The earliest historical evidence for a monastery in the area dates to the 5th or 6th century AD.

The republic has fought many battles to keep its independence. In 1291 and 1296, the people appealed to religious leaders to protect their tax exemptions. In 1463, the country grew by including four more communities. These borders have remained unchanged since that time. In 1503, Cesare Borgia occupied the republic for six months. He was only removed after Pope Julius II intervened. In 1543, an attempted conquest failed when an invading force got lost in a dense fog. The Sammarinesi believed Saint Quirinus helped them through this weather.

During the 19th century, San Marino became a refuge for many people. It helped Giuseppe Garibaldi and his wife Anita during the Italian unification process. Because of this, Garibaldi allowed San Marino to remain independent. In 1865, San Marino became the first existing state to abolish the death penalty. The country also maintains strong international ties. It is a member of the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Although it is not in the European Union, it uses the euro as its official currency.

The 20th century brought significant challenges during the World Wars. San Marino remained neutral during World War I. However, Italy sometimes viewed this neutrality with suspicion. During World War II, the country also maintained neutrality. In 1944, the country was unfortunately bombed by Allied forces. This happened because of a mistaken belief that German forces occupied the territory. The bombings caused extensive damage to the city center and the railway. Despite these hardships, the republic has remained a stable and wealthy nation.

Today, the economy of San Marino is quite strong. It ranks among the wealthiest countries in the world by GDP per capita. The economy is built on finance, industry, services, retail, and tourism.

Many visitors come to see the historic sites and the beautiful mountain views. You can even see a cablecar traveling over the hills.

The official language is Italian. However, many people still speak Sammarinese, which is a dialect of Romagnol. The nation continues to stand as a unique example of a long-lasting republic.