San Marino is the world’s oldest republic, established in 301. It has its own government, a seat at the United Nations, and produces its own stamps and coins. It also claims to be the oldest republic in Europe. Yet San Marino covers an area of only 61 sq km, and its borders are wholly contained within northern Italy.
The capital (also called San Marino) sits on top of the majestic Mount Titano and is crowned by imposing fortifications. It has long been a magnet for tourists, attracted by spectacular views over the Appenines and the historic hilltown, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
San Marino has held tightly to its independence for century after century, even as Italy unified around it and its fellow city-states vanished from the earth. It carries on today as a pebble in the Italian boot, a living fossil of old-world governance.
