The dwarf republic of San Marino is located in southern Europe, on the slopes of Mount Titano (738 m) and is surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy (the regions of Marche and Emilia-Romagna). San Marino area - 60, 57 sq. km, which is divided into the so-called "castles" or districts: San Marino, Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiezanuova, Montegardino and Serravalle. The capital of the Republic - the city of San Marino - is located almost at the top of Mount Titano. It is home to 4, 5 thousand people. The Adriatic Sea and the city of Rimini are 22 km away. Population - Sanmarines - about 30 thousand people. 95% are Catholics, 19% are Italians. Every year, more than 3 million tourists from all over the world come to San Marino to see with their own eyes medieval monuments (both real and their imitations), the government palace and the Walloni palace, the churches of San Francesco and San Quirino, to see the ruins of the castles of Guaita, Chesta and Montale, admire the sea from the viewpoints, and finally send home a postcard with a local postage stamp.
According to the legend about the formation of San Marino, a Dalmatian stone carver named Marino, a native of the island of Rab in present-day Croatia, settled here with a group of Christian supporters to avoid the persecution of Emperor Diocletian.
Despite repeated attempts to conquer San Marino (by neighboring cities and the papal state) thanks to the proud spirit of its people, the inaccessibility of the territory surrounded by a triple belt of fortress walls, and the brilliant leadership, the state of San Marino retained its independence for many centuries. In matters of foreign policy, the Republic of San Marino also adheres to neutrality and makes decisions on matters of political asylum on its territory. It has its own army, which is a military unit with special functions. To protect members of parliament in 1740, a national guard was created, armed with swords, and to maintain public order, a gendarmerie. San Marino has its own national flag, but no money of its own. Since 1953, an agreement has been concluded with Italy, according to which the latter pays monetary compensation to San Marino for the lack of its own currency and restrictions on construction (casinos, radio stations), which, however, was canceled in 1987. But the postage stamp of San Marino is known and appreciated by philatelists.
The state of San Marino has not joined the European Union, but it mints a European coin with the image of its main attractions on one of its sides. Few know about the even smaller but charming town of San Leo, located next door to San Marino. The surviving castle of San Leo was called the most beautiful military redoubt in Italy by the medieval politician and philosopher Machiavelli. And for Dante, the castle, the sheer bastions of which rise above the graceful cobbled square of the town, served as an inspiration for the writing of some parts of Purgatory.
Area - 61 km.
Population - 25 thousand people
Official language - Italian
In 64, when Rome was destroyed by a great fire, the emperor Nero blamed the Christians for this. Since then, for many years they were subjected to persecution and painful executions. Tradition says that in 301, a member of one of the first Christian communities of stonecutters, Marino, with friends found refuge in the Apennines, on the top of Monte Titano. The community soon proclaimed its independence. This is how the most ancient European state arose on Italian soil. Later, the Catholic Church canonized the Christian Marino. Hence the name of the state of San Marino (literally "Saint Marino"), which has existed since 301.
Almost all the indigenous people of this tiny country are relatives by marriage, blood relatives, or, finally, just good neighbors and acquaintances. In other words, the population of the state is represented by several sprawling large patriarchal families. Traditionally, the heads of families meet twice a year to discuss family problems in an informal setting. The residents of Sanmarine consider such meetings, perhaps, more authoritative than the meetings of the Sanmarine parliament - the Grand General Council.
The heads of state in San Marino are two captain-regents. It has long been a tradition that every Sanmarine, addressing even one of the co-rulers, had to use the plural. According to linguists, it was from San Marino that the custom of using the plural pronoun "you" for polite treatment spread throughout Europe.
Naturally, with such nepotism it is very difficult to be impartial in court proceedings. Therefore, according to the law and in the name of justice, only foreigners can work here as police and judges. The population of this tiny country is employed in small mechanical engineering and chemical industries, in agriculture and in serving tourists, and there are up to 3 million of them a year!
During the First World War, the Republic of San Marino became an ally of the Entente; 15 soldiers stood up under arms. During World War II, the republic declared its neutrality, but this did not save it from two weeks of German occupation. Today, the San Marino army has 51 soldiers and 34 officers. A military parade is held four times a year. Soldiers dressed in bright uniforms and armed with carbines of the 19th century pass along the narrow streets of the capital - the city of San Marino.
The Republic of San Marino is surrounded on all sides by Italian territory. In order to visit Rome, Venice or to visit the beaches of the Adriatic Sea on a weekend, it is enough to buy a train ticket. The railway tunnel passes under the Monte Titano mountain. However, relations with Italy were not always cloudless, and the borders were not always “transparent”. In 1951, the San Marino government decided to open a casino (gambling house) and build a powerful television and radio station. Italy protested and announced a blockade of San Marino. The borders were closed for several months, and in the end the dwarf state gave way to force.
