Washington sentinel., 1898-11-26
San Marino the Smallest Independ-
ent Republic in Europe.
Scientific .4,EeyfedH.

Few visitors to Italy ever make
the excursion from Rimini to San
Marino, the smallest independent
republic IN Europe, although it is
one of the most curious places in
Italy, if not in Europe, for it has
aintained itself as a republic ever
since the earliest times o. Chris
tianity. San MarIno, which has an
area of thirty three square miles,
lies between the provinces Of Forli
and PesaTo. Urbino, and is thus en-
tirely surrounded by Italian do
mains. It is situated on part ofthe
eastern spurs of the Apennines.
Monte Titano, the central and cul-
minating summit, has three peaks,
each surmounted by a castle. The
coat OF arms OF the republic is three
feathers, which seem to have been
suggested by these rocky SUBMITS
with their iortresses. The city OF
San Marino has 1000 inhabitants
out Of 8, 900 OF the republic. 1t is
one OF the most picturesque places
in the world, being purched on
perpendicular cliffs; and when we
look at them we can then under
stand that the extraordinary
mountains and rocks in the back
grounds OF the paintings of Peru
gino, Raphael, and other Umbrian
painters were not nightmares, but
were really taken from nature.
Borgo di San Marino, at the foot
OF the cliffs, is the commercial
centre OF the Republic, and here
we first find the money coined by
it. A steep path leads up to the
picturesque Citta, to which we
have already referred. From the
castle there is a magnificent view
OF the Adriatic, and even, on a clear
day, The coast OF Dalmatia NAV be
seen. It's said that when the mail
arrives at Borgo a bell is sounded,
and those who live on the cliffs
have to descend to get their mail.
II they wIsh it; for, owing to the
primitive state oil affairs, the pos
man never ascends the rock.
1t may we'll be asked how it is
that such an anomaly as the micro
scopic republic is allowed to exist
in the heart of a monarchy. The
history of San Marino is an inter
esting one. The first authentic
document dates from 88s. The
inhabitants purchased territory
from neighbOuring princes, and |
the commonwealth assisted Pope
Pius III. (Hneas Sylvius) against
the Malatestas ot Rimini, and as a
reward received three little castles.
On the annexation of Urbino to
the States of the Church, in I63I,
the independence Of San Marino
was ackn nowledged. In 1907 Ma
poleon decided to preserve the
small republic, and in 1884 Ma |
poleon III. saved it from the de
signs Of Plus TX When Italv be-
came unified, San Marino obtained |
excellent terms. 1t is governed |
by a great council Of sixty mem
bers-twenty mobiles, twenty bur
gesses, twenty rural landowners,
named for lIIe by the council it.
self From this body is elected
the Council Of Twelve, which,
with a legal adviser, decides all
questions. Two captains regent,
elected every six months, repre-
sent the State, which has also its
Home Secretary, its Minister of
Foreign Affairs, its Chancellor of
the EXchequer. its army of $50
men, and regular Budget. BY
.reaty with Italy, San Marino re-
;eives a certain proportion OF the
Italian Customs revenue, but ex-
.cts no customs on her borders.
she also agrees not to grow to-
'acco, but IS allowed to import
obacco duty free. In order to
void copyright difficulties, there
5 no printing press in San Marino.
t is curious fact that the COM
or Judge, and the phys
clan must both be strangers, and
hey are paid out Of the public
'urse. Such are few of the curl
'us facts connected with the
mallest independent republic in
lurope-Or the world, for that