San Marino: The World’s Oldest Republic

The Flag of San Marino

Fun Facts About San Marino

• San Marino is a tiny state bordered by the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna to the north and east and Marche to the south and west.
• A person from San Marino is called Sammarinese. Sammarinese is used for both singular and plural tense.
• The landscape is for the most part green with rolling hills, dominated by the three peaks of Mount Titano.
• Within San Marino lie the capital of the same name and eight villages.
• The third smallest state in Europe (after the Vatican and Monaco).
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  San Marino on the map

  San Marino claims to be the world’s oldest republic.

• According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in 301 A.D. who escaped from the Roman Empire to seek freedom from religious persecution.  Marinus settled at the base of Mount Titano.
• San Marino’s foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy, as are social and political trends.
• San Marino has 9 municipalities (castelli, singular – castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle.
• The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP.
• In 2000 more than 3 million tourists visited San Marino.
• The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses.
• The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.
• San Marino became a member of the United Nations in 1992. Although San Marino doesn’t do much for the United Nations, it does pay 0.002% of the U.N.’s annual fees. (That means that for every $50,000 the U.N. needs, San Marino pays $1)

Special thanks to www.travel-island.com and www.funtrivia.com