San Marino – I think it’s a lifetime dream to go there one day. And I am so happy that finally I had the chance. So this fall me and my Irish friend took the car early in the morning to drive in one of the smallest countries of the world. A country embedded in another country.
It is an enclaved microstate, entirely surrounded by Italy, just a few kilometers far from the Adriatic Sea and on the north-eastern side of the Apennine mountains. For a few years I thought it would be a great place to live and still I think I would like it.
As state it has a small population of 30.000 inhabitants. It is a sovereign state like Vatican City, Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Grenada, Barbados, Palau, Saint Lucia and many more worldwide. As state it has no national dept and a budget surplus and is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I think I should definitely try to live there…
Historically it is maybe the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic. Officially it was founded in 301 by Saint Marinus a Christian stonemason from the island Arba/Croatia. He went first to Rimini for work and then founded a church on the monte Titano – the today San Marino.
1.300 years later the Papacy recognized its independence. During Napoleon’s time in Italy it could maintain its freedom thanks to the friendship between the French leader and a regent of San Marino, Antonio Onofri.
During the battles of Giuseppe Garibaldi for the unification of the Italian states it served as a refuge for persecuted people. Garibaldi respected the wish of the state to stay out of the unification into Italy.
Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was an honorary citizen of San Marino?
The world wars didn’t involve the state, it remained always neutral to everything. But nevertheless it was bombed on the 1st April 1944 under the wrong believe it was overrun by German forces. The very same day San Marino declared not to be involved in any warship.
Very interesting to know: San Marino uses the Euro as currency but is no member of the Eurozone. It’s also no member of the EU but a member of the UN and the council of Europe.
There is no military, the national defense will be done by the Italian armed forces. The country is not allowed (by conventions with Italy) to import directly goods from third countries or to coin its currency. In exchange the small country rock gets sea salt, tobacco, cigarettes and matches. The salt is a good thing but the tobacco story would be better to change into chocolate, what do you think?
The International Academy of Sciences San Marino is a (I think unique) scientific association which teaches and public scientific articles in Esperanto.
So small but it has nine municipalities they call castelli (castles).
Clearly visible at my stay in San Marino was that tourism is one of the most important economies of the state. It reminded me of Capri, the small island in the Gulf of Naples.
But there is more. Banking is very important here. They have no taxes on national goods. As products they are high in electronics and ceramics. Cheese and wine are the agricultural products. But I would say honey as well as I have seen and spoken to many honey-makers.
When we got there I parked at Borgo Maggiore, just at the feet of the City of San Marino. We took the aerial tramway to get on the top of the Monte Titano in just a minute and for a few euros.
The ancient center of the state is amazing.. and overcrowded with tourists. For me it was impressive to see how many shops there are, mainly fashion and leather (bags) shops.
The rock is dominated by three towers: the oldest Guaita that for me looks a little like Schloss Schwanenstein in Bavaria/Germany, the highest castle Cesta where there is a museum of Saint Marinus (the founder) and the small and closed to the public one Montale.
On my walk through the city I didn’t enter in even one because it was all so overcrowded and I had to wait to go in. We just wandered around, enjoying the parks and the amazing view from every sight.
We had a wonderful meal in a restaurant that was less visited, sitting in the autumn sun and watching down from a terrace on the people passing by. It was extremely relaxing.
Later we walked slowly back towards the tramway to get back down to Borgo Maggiore. I didn’t take immediately the road back to Italy then but had a small drive around the surrounding hills of San Marino. A green landscape full of small villages, beautiful villas and inviting farm houses. For sure if it would not have been already late I would have tried to find a country road back to Pesaro where we had our holiday home. But I turned back on the main road down towards Rimini and than the motorway south.
The City of San Marino is so small than a two hours walk would be OK if you don’t enter in anything. For a good look around and visiting at least one of the towers, lunch and strolling through the shops you need a whole day or 5 to 6 hours.
Have you ever been to San Marino? Or Monaco, the Vatican? Would you like to live in such a small country? I loved to be here especially for the atmosphere and the position. I think there is no better one in the world. The overlook on the Italian country-side is so breathtaking.
San Marino:
For further information:
San Marino Tourism website
