San Marino

San Marino (officially called the Most Serene Republic of San Marino) is a country in Europe. It is one of the smallest countries in the world. It is in Southern Europe and is fully surrounded by Italy (this is called an enclave, and only the Vatican City, Lesotho and San Marino are like this). Fewer than 30,000 people live there. Its total area is 61 km2. Its capital is the City of San Marino.

San Marino is claimed to be the world's oldest republic that still exists. It was started on September 3, 301 A.D. by a skilled builder called Saint Marinus. Its written constitution was adopted on October 8, 1600. The very small nation was recognized by Napoleon's France in 1797, and by the other European nations at the 1815 Congress of Vienna.

Even though it is an independent country, it depends very much on Italy. Since the 19th century, when Italy was unified, San Marino has been fully surrounded by Italy.

The biggest industry in San Marino is tourism. Selling postage stamps is an important source of income, too. San Marino is not a member of the European Union, but the euro is used in San Marino.

People in San Marino speak the Italian language. Most people in San Marino believe in Roman Catholicism.

 History 
Saint Marinus left the island of Rab (today Croatia) with his lifelong friend Leo, and went to the city of Rimini to work as a stonemason. After the Persecution of Diocletianus following his Christian sermons, he escaped to the nearby Monte Titano. There he built a small church and founded what is now the city and state of San Marino.

The official founding date is 3 September 301 AD. In 1320 the community of Chiesanuova chose to join the country. In 1463 San Marino extended with the communities of Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, and Serravalle. Since then there have been no changes in the country's borders.

In 1503, Cesare Borgia occupied the Republic for six months. It remained like that until Pope Julius II intervened and restored the country's independence.

Geography

San Marino is covered by the Apennine mountain range, and it has a rugged terrain with no natural level ground. The highest point in the country is Monte Titano. There are no bodies of water of any significant size. It is between the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche.

San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe, Only Vatican City and Monaco are smaller.

Two rivers flow through San Marino. There is no major water transport, and no major port or harbour.

Municipalities
These are the 9 castelli (municipalities) of San Marino:

 Cities in San Marino Rank  City  Areakm2  Population 1986  1996  2006 1.  Serravalle  10.53  6,995  8,085  9,847 2.  Borgo Maggiore  9.01  4,421  5,358  6,061 3.  City of San Marino  7.09  4,179  4,350  4,409 4.  Domagnano  6.62  1,885  2,207  2,899 5.  Fiorentino  6.56  1,478  1,798  2,253 6.  Acquaviva  4.86  1,148  1,264  1,881 7.  Faetano  7.75  738  870  1,139 8.  Chiesanuova  5.46  724  866  1036 9.  Montegiardino  3.31  557  717  843    San Marino  61.19  22,125  25,515  30,368

Food
The food of San Marino is very similar to Italian, especially the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions. It has a lots of its own unique foods. It's best known food is the Torta Tre Monti ("Cake of the Three Mountains" or "Cake of the Three Towers"), a wafer cake covered in chocolate. The country also has a small wine industry.

Public holidays and festivals
 Date Name Explanation1 JanuaryNew Year's DayFestival marking the beginning of the new year.6 JanuaryEpiphanyCommemorates the visit of the three Wise Men or magi to the infant Jesus.5 FebruaryFeast of Saint AgathaCommemoration of St. Agatha, Patroness of the Republic, as well as liberation from foreign rule.variable *EasterResurrection of Jesus.variable **Easter MondayMonday after Easter day.25 MarchAnniversary of the ArengoAnniversary of the Arengo and the Festa delle Milizie (Feast of the Militants).1 MayLabour DayCelebration of workers and employees.variable ***Corpus DominiCommemoration of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.28 JulyLiberation from FascismCommemoration of the fall of the Sammarinese Fascist Party.15 AugustFerragosto (Assumption)Commemoration of the Virgin Mary's direct assumption into heaven upon her death.3 SeptemberThe Feast of San Marino and the RepublicNational feast of San Marino, celebrating the origin of the Republic in 301.1 NovemberAll Saints' DayFeast dedicated to all saints.2 NovemberCommemoration of all those who died at warRemembrance of all those who gave their lives for San Marino in war.8 DecemberImmaculate ConceptionRemembrance of the Virgin Mary's conception without original sin.24 DecemberChristmas EveDay before the commemoration of the birth of Jesus.25 DecemberChristmasBirth of Jesus.26 DecemberSt. Stephen's DayCommemoration of the death of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.31 DecemberNew Year's EveCelebration which closes and marks the end of the year.* Easter: the first Sunday after the full moon and the March equinox ** Easter Monday: the Monday after Easter day *** Corpus Domini: the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday 

References


Category:Italian-speaking countries