San Marino: a miniature state with centuries-old traditions. San Marino: a miniature state with centuries-old traditions Where is San Marino located on the map

San Marino is miniature state, which is located in the northeast of the Apennine Peninsula, between the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche. This is the smallest and most ancient republic on the planet. The full name of the country is the Most Serene Republic of San Marino.

Despite the very small area, the country is divided into 9 municipalities ( castelli): the capital of San Marino, as well as the castelli of Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Domagnano, Chiesanuova, Montegiardino, Serravalle, Faetano and Fiorentino. These areas, or city-communes, historically arose on the site of the first settlements, where defensive fortresses were subsequently erected.

The capital is not the most big city: only 4.5 thousand people live in San Marino, while in industrial Serravalle there are twice as many.

The Republic owes its name to Saint Marino, who at the beginning of the 4th century AD gathered a group of Christians and took refuge with them from the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian on Mount Titano. Marino was canonized during his lifetime. According to legend, his last words were: “I leave you free from other people.” The tiny village quickly received the status of a separate state and already in the Middle Ages had its own republican laws, which are still in effect in San Marino today.

In foreign policy The republic invariably maintains neutrality.

These days, San Marino is deservedly one of the most visited countries in Europe. This is facilitated by both the rich cultural and historical heritage of the republic and the distinctive hospitality of the local residents.

Capital	San Marino
Population	32,000 people (2011)

Population density	519.9 people/km²
	Italian
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	parliamentary republic
	euro, San Marino lira
Timezone
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity	220 V, 50 Hz, European type sockets.

Climate and weather

San Marino has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. This means that the summers here are long, hot and sunny, and the winters, although short, are quite cold.

There is practically no rain in summer, and the average daily temperature in August–September is +26 °C. At this time, breezes blow on the flat part of the country, which somewhat soften the heat.

The coldest month is February: at this time the air warms up during the day to +7...+9 °C. In winter it often blows cold North wind(here it is called " boron"), so there may be frosts down to -1...-4 °C at night. Sometimes snow falls, but the snow cover does not stay long.

The best time to travel to San Marino is from May to September, when the weather is most comfortable.

Nature

The nature of San Marino will impress any traveler. And if you climb higher into the mountains, you will see that the lands of Italy also “work” on the beauty of San Marino - after all, they offer a wonderful view from above. Mount Titano, 738 m above sea level, is the highest point in the country.

The flora of this region is very diverse and has about 4 thousand species. Numerous evergreens grow here: cypress, laurel, pistachio, cork oak, magnolia, pomegranate and olive, southern juniper and boxwood, blue-green agaves, lemon. Blackberries and dozens of types of flowers grow everywhere.

The country's fauna is notable for the fact that, if desired, all its representatives can be found in the surrounding forests. In addition to the well-known squirrels and hares, there are martens, weasels, chamois, roe deer, wild boars and badgers here. The rivers are inhabited by chubs, tench, pike and even trout and grayling.

Attractions

The main attractions of the country are located in the capital - the city of San Marino. An examination of the local architectural wonders always begins with the famous towers - Guaita, Montale and Cesta (they are depicted on the coat of arms of San Marino).

The Guaita Tower was built in the 11th century and initially served as a prison. Now this is perhaps the most popular place among tourists in San Marino. From the height of the tower you can endlessly admire the picturesque beauties of the lands of San Marino and Italy. The Tower of Chest was built on highest point Monte Titano in the 13th century, and Montale was built a century later. True, tourist access to this tower is now limited.

It is also interesting to visit the Government Palace of San Marino, or Palazzo Publico. This grand building, with its battlements, pointed turrets and polygonal balconies, looks much more like a defensive fortress than a secular palace. Actually, the palace has always performed protective functions. Inside you can look at the perfectly preserved Council Hall, the Meeting and Audience Hall, the Voting Hall and great amount samples of medieval art.

Be sure to take a walk around Freedom Square (“ Piazza della Liberta") in front of the Government Palace. Here is the Statue of Liberty, which was given to the city in 1876 by the German Countess Geirot Wagener. Under the square there are huge tank tanks " Fossey", which used to collect rainwater to provide the residents of San Marino with drinking water (there are almost no rivers in the country). Opens from the square beautiful view to the town and local cemetery of Montalbo, which, oddly enough, is considered a popular tourist spot.

In the vicinity of the capital there are also many interesting historical monuments. Here one cannot help but pay attention to the unique temples, which in medieval San Marino were not only places of worship, but also centers of education and science. The rock-cut Chapel of San Marino, located in Baldacerrone, is very impressive. Cailungo is located temple complex San Rocco Oratori, where you can see the Madonna and Child canvas, dated 1542. Domagnano has the church of San Michele Arcangelo, built in 1253. And the most old church St. Andrew's, which is mentioned in the chronicles in 1144, is located in Serravalha. True, the ancient building has not survived, and the modern building was erected in 1824.

Nutrition

Italian cuisine dominates in the Republic of San Marino. Here you will be offered the same ravioli, lasagna, cannelloni, tortellini, pasatelli broth, various pastas and pizza. Particularly popular are Roman escalopes, fried rabbit, Bolognese cutlets, assorted “mutfuls” of three types of meat and fried partridge with different sauces. You can’t be in San Marino without trying the San Iarino pie and caramel dessert “ Cacciatello».

Any restaurant will offer you an impressive wine list. The best are considered to be Muscat Moscato di San Marino, as well as Albana, Biancale and Sangiovese wines. If you are brave enough, you can try the local strong drink " mister».

Of the Italian restaurants in the country's capital, tourists are usually advised to visit Ritrovo dei Lavoratori And Il Piccolo. Note that there are almost no alternatives to Italian cuisine in San Marino, except for American-European fast food in shopping centers. But if you want to take a break from pasta and pizza, you can dine at a restaurant Guang Dong, where visitors are offered wide choose dishes of Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

Accommodation

The bulk of tourists come to San Marino for a one-day visit and live in a nearby Italian city Rimini. In some cases it turns out to be cheaper.

But in San Marino there are about a dozen beautiful family hotels categories 3* and 4*. Almost all of them are located in picturesque areas with green parks and flowering gardens. As a rule, hotels have a swimming pool and a restaurant. The rooms are air conditioned. Internet access and breakfast are often not included in the room price.

Please note that from April to October, in high season, there may not be enough rooms, so we advise you to book hotels in advance.

As for rental housing in San Marino, it is mainly not apartments that are rented here, but houses designed to accommodate a large family. As a rule, the cost of such pleasure is at least 2000 euros per month, which is perhaps more affordable than a long stay in a 4* hotel, but not at all cheap for long-term rental.

Entertainment and relaxation

The first thing that impresses all travelers without exception in San Marino is the abundance of holidays, which are a series of religious and secular events. All celebrations take place in San Marino on a grand scale. Many holidays are concentrated in the period from January 6 (Epiphany) to February 5 (Anniversary of liberation from Alberone occupation). It is extremely interesting to watch on April 1 and October 1 the magnificent ceremony of transferring powers to the new captain-regent. And, of course, if you find yourself in San Marino at the end of April, do not miss the opportunity to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix races. The most spectacular holidays are “ Medieval Days” at the end of July and Independence Day on September 3.

Very popular in everyday life in San Marino active species recreation. There are many football fields, swimming pools, and tennis courts. Tourists are also offered roller skating, bicycles, basketball, hunting and fishing. Be sure to try your hand at local sports - clay pigeon shooting and ball throwing " bocci».

If you come with children, be sure to visit the local aquarium and watch the life of rare fish and reptiles.

Museums in San Marino deserve special attention. You can touch history at the State Museum of San Marino and the Museum of Ancient Weapons in the Tower of Cesta. Paintings and sculptures of the 16th-17th centuries are presented in art gallery Church of San Francesco. Car enthusiasts can expect exciting experiences at the Vintage Car Museum and exhibition Maranello-Resso- the world's only exhibition of Ferrari cars since 1951. Curious exhibits are also presented in the Museum of Curiosities and the Wax Museum.

Purchases

Shopping in San Marino is attractive because the country is a duty-free zone: prices here will be about 20% lower than in Italy! Therefore, this is where tourists come who want to buy a whole wardrobe for 500-1000 €.

In San Marino there are about ten so-called outlets where you can buy things from famous Italian designers with a 30-70% discount. Moreover, discounts are valid all year round, and during total sales in July-August and January-February, discounts are doubled. True, at this time there is such an influx of shopaholics that popular models and sizes are not easy to find.

The most popular outlet is the capital one Big Chic, or San Marino Factory Outlet. All brands are located in separate stores. These are mainly mid-segment items at reasonable prices.

Fur coats deserve special attention: there are two fur factories in San Marino - UniFur And Braschi. In factory stores you can buy a beautiful, high-quality fur coat for 1000-1500 €.

It is believed that in San Marino you can buy high-quality sunglasses inexpensively: in the center of the capital there are indeed a lot of shops with a huge selection of glasses in different price categories. But you should be very careful not to buy a fake.

All tourists consider it their duty to purchase leather items in the city of San Marino. In the center there are many small private shops, where during sales you can find leather jackets from little-known Italian brands for 200-300 €.

When it comes to souvenirs and gifts, San Marino deservedly has the reputation of a souvenir paradise. In local souvenir shops you can find anything: from glass and ceramic vases to exclusive jewelry. We also recommendbuy alcohol in San Marino, as it is cheaper here than in duty free.

When planning a shopping trip in San Marino, remember that from 13:30 to 16:00 almost all shops are closed.

Transport

There is no airport or railway in San Marino. However, the country gets along just fine without them, since literally an hour’s drive from San Marino, in the Italian city of Rimini, there is international Airport named after Federico Fellini and the railway station. Buses and taxis run regularly from Rimini to San Marino.

Finding a taxi in San Marino is not a problem. There are about ten San Marino taxi services, and several more Italian ones are added to them, which carry passengers from San Marino to Rimini and back.

There is also such a type of transport as cable car. It leads to the towns of Borgo Maggiore and Monte Titano. The cable car cars are called gondolas and run every 15 minutes. From July 1 to September 5, the cable car operates from 7:50 to 01:00, from September 6 to 30 - until 20:00, in October and March - until 19:00, and in November-February it stops operating at 18:30 . The cost of the trip is 4.5 € in both directions.

If you wish, you can rent a car in San Marino. There are several car rental points in the capital. In order to rent a car, you need credit card and an international driver's license. The driver must be at least 21 years old.

Connection

San Marino has many internet cafes with wireless internet access. Internet services are also provided in all hotels, but it makes sense to check their costs in advance.

But mobile connection The quality here is excellent: the country uses the GSM 900/1800 standard. There are two mobile operators - Vodafone Omnitel And Telecom Italia Mobile. Roaming is also available; only the cost of this service can upset a tourist.

An alternative to expensive roaming can be telephone booths located everywhere. To pay for calls, you can use telephone cards (sold at any kiosk or store), as well as tokens or small coins. At the post office and from some bars you can call using the “ scatty", that is, pay after the conversation.

If you need to call abroad, again, a street pay phone will help. You can also order a conversation at a call center. The cost of calls depends on the destination country and time of day. The cheapest time to call is from 22:00 to 8:00. If you are going to make calls from a pay phone, it is better to buy a special calling card that provides favorable rates to certain countries.

Safety

The crime rate in San Marino is one of the lowest in Europe, so there is no need to worry about safety here. But, as in any tourist place, you should beware of thieves of all stripes. Large sums of money, expensive jewelry, watches and other valuables are best stored in a hotel safe, even for an additional fee. By the way, you shouldn’t leave valuables in your hotel room either, since the administration is not responsible for things not deposited in the safe.

There are no predatory animals or outbreaks of infectious diseases on the territory of San Marino. Only a cool person can pose a potential danger mountainous terrain, due to which roads and streets are known for their sharp curves.

Business climate

Since 1956, San Marino has had the status of a free economic zone. The country is attractive offshore zone and enjoys a reputation as a “tax haven.” It is not without reason that many Italian companies locate their production in San Marino in order to take advantage of significant tax breaks. From the point of view of foreign investment, such areas as banking, numismatics and tourism are traditionally considered promising.

Real estate

As in many dwarf states, it is unlikely that you can buy real estate cheaply in San Marino. The opportunity to have housing in a picturesque mountainous region with excellent ecology and excellent infrastructure costs a lot of money, and, apparently, in San Marino this is understood very well, since the cost of real estate in this country is traditionally high.

The conditions for purchasing an apartment or house in San Marino are not much different from the conditions for purchasing real estate in Europe or Italy. So, today any foreigner in San Marino can purchase an apartment, villa or commercial real estate with ownership. But, unfortunately, you won’t be able to obtain citizenship this way, even if you buy a villa for several million euros. To become a citizen of San Marino, you need to have officially lived here for 30 years.

Note that in this country any real estate is subject to tax, but, fortunately, there is an agreement between Russia and San Marino that prevents double taxation.

Among residential real estate, most offers concern the sale of country houses - the apartment market is very scarce. But villas and luxurious mansions abound. But prices for a house in San Marino usually start from 500-600 thousand euros.

San Marino is a small but proud country, and this should be taken into account when communicating with its natives. Be sure to ask permission before photographing a local resident.

Residents of San Marino are offended if they are called Italians: however, not at all because they do not like Italians, they simply value their own independence very much.

A striking difference from Italy is also manifested in restrained etiquette: when meeting or making acquaintances in San Marino, they do not hug and kiss, as in Italy, but just shake hands.

Smoking is prohibited in most public places and, incidentally, while driving a car. Violation of the latter prohibition is punishable by a fine of 100 €.

As for currency exchange, we advise you to inquire in advance about the commission percentage charged at the bank or exchange office. Since the maximum percentage is not prescribed by law, in some places it can reach 10%. Some exchange offices may also charge a fixed commission. Also note that most banks require you to present your passport when exchanging foreign currency. Banks are open on weekdays from 8.30 to 13.30 and from 15.00 to 16.00. Exchange offices work an hour longer. By the way, the official money of San Marino - the lira - is not used here.

The Republic of San Marino is located in a mountainous area in the center of Italy. It is the oldest republic in the world - according to legend, it was created in 301 AD. e. In addition, the Republic of San Marino is also one of the smallest countries in the world. The territory of the country is divided into 9 regions, which are called “castellas” (fortifications, communes). The capital of the same name is located on the terraces of the Monte Titano hill. There is no airport, but the bus service is well developed. The official language is Italian. The local currency is the euro.

San Marino on the world map

San Marino has a temperate climate. There are cool winters and warm summers. Thousands of tourists come to the republic on Christmas Eve to watch the medieval festival. At this time, on every street you can see a colorful parade of knights, archers and musicians. In winter, numerous shopping tents appear in the central squares, and clowns and tightrope walkers entertain guests.
San Marino, the capital of the republic, is a Mecca of tourism. More than three million people visit it every year! The medieval houses, towers and squares of the capital are still preserved in excellent condition. Even ancient cisterns designed to collect rainwater for the needs of the local population have been preserved.

Map of San Marino in Russian

In addition to the narrow winding streets, picturesque courtyards and many buildings built in the Middle Ages, three magnificent castle towers invariably attract the attention of tourists. The complex is located on the top of the mountain, on its three peaks:
La Rocca is the first and most famous of the towers, built in the ninth century without a foundation directly on the rock.
La Cesta is the second central tower, which houses the famous weapons museum.
La Rocca Montale – third, pentagonal watch tower. Its construction was never fully completed. Visitor access is limited.
Other iconic sights that are definitely worth seeing are:
A Gothic building erected in the 14th century, Piazza della Libertà is the seat of government.
The Basilica del Santo, which houses the ashes of St. Mariino, was built on the site of one of the first churches.
Romanesque bell tower located in close proximity to the Basilica del Santo.
An ancient fortress formerly owned by the Malatesta family, located on Monte Lupo in Torraccia and much more!
In addition to historical attractions, tourists are also attracted by local shops, whose prices are significantly lower than the European average.
San Marino is also very famous among philatelists. Surprisingly, stamps and coins are an important sector of the local budget.
Tourists often buy alcohol as souvenirs. Fine Italian wines and the famous citrus liqueur Limmoncino are popular. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons

San Marino on the map

San Marino, a dwarf state in Italy. Being an enclave, it is surrounded on all sides by Italian territories. The state is considered the oldest in the world, since its foundation dates back to the very beginning of the 4th century; even the exact date is known, 301 years after the birth of Christ. A stonecutter from the island of Rab and his friends found refuge on Mount Monto Titano and since then their descendants have called themselves Sanmarinians.

San Marino on the map

In the window below you can make virtual walk in San Marino. Use the navigation arrows in the upper left corner of the image. You can change the viewing angle using the arrows on the keyboard. To move around the image, you can click in the image area. Arrows on city streets show routes. You can change your position on the city map by dragging the yellow man in the lower right corner of the image with your mouse:

Storms and adversities bypassed the small republic. It was of little interest to the powerful population of the surrounding states. However, as soon as it tried to set up a powerful television station and casino in 1951, Italy banned it. The motives are lost to history, but they probably existed. Thus San Marino had to submit.

San Marino Map

Nowadays, San Marino is inhabited by about 32 thousand people. They stubbornly separate themselves from the Italians, preserving their independence. And this is vital, because the main influx Money comes from tourists who want to visit this curious corner of Europe. Picturesque landscapes, magnificent fortresses, built by the craftsmen of the small republic, delight the eyes of tourists and fill the memory with new impressions. San Mariino, very rich state. Each resident earns about $45,000 per year.

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Advertising page. Of course, San Marino is a wonderful corner of Europe. Similar to a small diamond brooch that is so prized by women. Irkutsk, of course, is a completely different matter. This harsh Siberian city could accommodate three dozen such San Marins. Certainly, daily rental apartments in Irkutsk, in this case it would have risen quite a bit. However, now it is quite accessible. So if you need daily rentals, Irkutsk will always provide them for you.

Do you know which of the dwarf states is the dwarf and the oldest? This is the Republic of San Marino. But in the case of the state, old age and small sizes only add to its merits. When you approach the capital of the state of San Marino, city of the same name, then it becomes clear how they managed to maintain independence from the 4th century to the present day.

The city of San Marino is protected by Monte Titano, which rises seven hundred and fifty meters above sea level. First we drove up by car along a moderate serpentine road, then we continued on foot outside the walls of the fortress. When there was no motor transport, climbing the mountain where the capital of the dwarf state is located was a serious obstacle to the conquering armies.

Napoleon, during his Italian campaign, declared that San Marino must be preserved as an example of freedom and passed by. During the Second World War, the republic managed to maintain neutrality and avoid ruin. Cesare Borgia took the fortified city in 1503, but the Sanmarines managed to get rid of tyranny a few months later.

For motorists, it is worth noting that if you downloaded maps of Italy into your navigator, then the map of San Marino will not be there; we fell into this trap and were guided by the signs on the road.

San Marino is popular among tourists as duty free zone. But this is not the only advantage of the tiny state. Views from Monte Titano absolutely unforgettable views of the hills of Italy. The popular seaside resort of Rimini is located just 22 km from San Marino. From the walls of the fortress you can see the Adriatic Sea in good weather.

Rimini and San Marino are connected by an excellent multi-lane highway, traffic up the mountain was dense, many Italians go to the shops of the neighboring state to do their shopping. We went into a grocery supermarket at the entrance to the fortress, customers were rolling out heaps of loaded carts, it was immediately obvious that they were stockpiling supplies, the prices were really encouraging.

Apennines - view from the walls of San Marino

Proximity seaside resort nearby San Marino provides a continuous flow of tourists, enriching the state treasury. Official language- Italian, not official - Russian, absolutely all the sellers speak pure Russian, this surprised me most of all, apparently Russian tourists welcome guests in stores in San Marino.

All pedestrian crossings are painted in the colors of the flag

We managed to park the car right under the walls of the fortress, 50 meters from the San Francesco gate. Parking is paid, the price is quite reasonable, otherwise I would have remembered how much they charged. You need to pay at the machine and place the receipt under the glass.

Porta San Francesco or Porta Del Loco

Starting from the Del Loco gate it is only possible walking route, right outside the gates there is a bustling trade, but the higher you go up the mountain, the less bustle and people there are; many tourists are not interested in architecture and landscapes, but simply pragmatically go shopping.

The weather was rainy and cold, only +16. All the Russian sellers told us that they don’t remember such a cold July, it certainly hasn’t been for 10 years. We walked around San Marino on July 10, 2014. The umbrella we bought was broken and had to be repaired with tape, so in Germany you can also buy a low-quality product; the umbrella only served us for 1 day.

Observation deck on Monte Titano

Fortunately, the rain fell intermittently, and by evening it stopped completely. Low clouds make it difficult to enjoy the surrounding scenery. The city was fortified and protected by three rows of fortress walls, built in different time. The characteristic teeth on the towers are reminiscent of the Moscow Kremlin.

Fortress walls and parking

In total, there are three ancient fortresses on Monte Titano; two of them contain museums, and the third is just a tower with no entrance. Three fortresses are depicted on the state coat of arms.

At the foot of the fortress there are modern sculptures.

Crossbowmen's quarry "Ballerina" - modern art

We photographed only fairly conservative specimens; there were also some very strange ones.

Crossbowmen's Quarry "Girl on Skates" - contemporary art

Only at home I found out that the sculpture was called “Bees”; our whole friendly family recognized these insects as mosquitoes. For bees, they are very thin, and what they do, everyone understands to the extent of their depravity.

Crossbowmen's Quarry "Bees" - contemporary art

Under the wall there is a crossbow quarry, where crossbow shooting competitions are still held.

Crossbowmen's Quarry - Fortress Walls

Government Palace

The Government Palace is a new building; construction was completed in 1894. The new palace was built on the site of an ancient palace from the 16th century. Above the palace clock are images of St. Marino, the founder of the state, surrounded by St. Agata and St. Leo. In front of the palace is the Statue of Liberty, this is how it looks in its Sanmarinian version.

Government Palace and Statue of Liberty

Church of Del Santo Pieve

Alas, this church is also a new building. The Sanmarinians admitted that they caused irreparable harm to the country when they demolished the ancient pre-Romanesque church of Pieve. The old church stood at the origins of Christianity and represented unique monument history and culture of the state.

Under the altar of the modern church, part of the relics of St. Marino is kept. He lived during the time of the Roman emperor Diolectian and was a Christian; the future saint fled to Mount Monte Titano to escape persecution and lived a long life with the Christians who joined him. He and his followers founded this tiny state.

Church of Santo Pieve

First fortress - Guiata

It is impossible to say exactly when construction began; it is absolutely certain that in 1371, according to documentary sources, there were already three fortresses on the mountain; the start of construction is supposedly dated back to the 10th century.

First fortress of Guiata

Naturally, over the long years of its existence, the fortifications were rebuilt and restored many times.

Second fortress - Chesta

Sometimes this fortress is also called Fratta. The fortress, like the others, stands on the very edge of the cliff, on the very high peak Mount Titano. Now in the fortress there is a museum of ancient weapons, which we visited; our boys love weapons. The ticket to the museum is made in the form of a plastic card; when you leave, you can give it back and receive 1 euro for each ticket.

Second Fortress of Chesta

Very picturesque ancient paths lead from one fortress to another. The second fortress, in my opinion, is the most beautiful.

Tower of the Chesta Fortress

Only those who have purchased a ticket to the museum of ancient weapons can walk through the towers of the fortress hanging over the cliff, so I recommend it.

Third fortress - Montale

The third fortress is just one tower. Most likely, the fortress was simply not completed due to the changed political situation.

The tower served as an observation and guard tower and covered the left flank of Chesta.

Third fortress of Montale

Well, and some more picturesque views of the surrounding area. Fields and hills of Italy.

Views from the walls of the fortress

Going down, you are again immersed in the crowd shopping in the lower stores. everyone recognizes San Marino as the most vivid impression of the entire trip. Crazy bustle reigns only in the first tier; the higher you go up, the quieter and calmer it becomes.

The dwarf state of San Marino is one of the smallest and at the same time one of the oldest in Europe: it has existed for more than 17 centuries, and all this time it has remained independent - it is not for nothing that the word “Freedom” is inscribed on the flag of San Marino. The state was able to maintain its independence even during the Napoleonic wars. By the way, the first Constitution was adopted here – in 1600. Official name country - the Most Serene Republic of San Marino.

General information

Where is San Marino? Inside Italy: it is an enclave and borders the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche.

The state was founded by a stonemason (according to another version, a monk) Christian Marinus, who fled here from the Croatian island of Rab from persecution and created a community of free Christian masons here. The official founding day of the state is September 3, 301; This holiday is celebrated on a grand scale in the state. It is believed that it was Marinus (Marino) who became the discoverer of quarries, first carving out a small cell in the rock for solitary prayers. Marino was later recognized as a saint and is now considered the patron saint of the state.

The area of the state is 61 km², the population of San Marino is just over 32 thousand people. Citizenship of the state can only be obtained by a person born in San Marino and having at least one citizen parent, or for special merits; These include investments in the economy or culture of a country and its propaganda in the world (for example, this is how journalist Dmitry Krylov, author of “Unlucky Notes,” received citizenship of this country). Marriage to a citizen of San Marino does not give the right to quickly obtain citizenship - it will be possible to obtain it only after having been married for at least 15 years. You can obtain citizenship after a fairly long period - 35 years! - residence in the country.

Capital. The capital of the state of San Marino is, which bears the same name. Just over 4 thousand people live in the capital. In the capital there are government agencies, newspaper editorial offices and printing houses, the National Central Bureau - the local representative office of Interpol. The entire territory of the capital, together with the fortress, is an object World Heritage UNESCO.

Religion. In San Marino, the dominant religion is Catholicism - it is professed by about 93% of the inhabitants. There are also representatives of other religions here - for example, in 2010, 16 residents were Muslims.

Official language San Marino is Italian, although only just under 13% of the residents are Italian. The majority of the population are Sanmarinians (more than 85%). Other languages spoken in San Marino include French, German and even Esperanto. About 2/3 of the population of San Marino is of working age - from 15 to 64 years.

Culture San Marino is akin to Italian - apparently, it was the Italians who at one time made up the bulk of the community created by Saint Marino, and they came from Tuscany, since the Sanmarinos speak precisely this dialect of the Italian language.

Currency San Marino - euro, previously, from 1860 to 2002, the San Marino lira was used, equal to the Italian one, and only coins were issued, and Italian banknotes were used. Both Italian and Vatican coins were in free circulation in the country, as were San Marino coins in Italy and the Vatican. Today, San Marino issues commemorative coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents, as well as 1 and 2 euros. By the way, commemorative 2-euro coins issued by countries belonging to the eurozone usually cost from 3 to 30 euros, and coins of San Marino are valued from 35 to 100 euros.

Weather. San Marino has a Mediterranean climate, but due to its elevated position, it can get quite cold at night in winter: if the average daily temperature in winter is about +4°C, then at night it can drop to -6°C. Winters have little snow, and if snow falls, it does not last long. The weather in San Marino is mostly sunny with little precipitation. The rainiest months are autumn. In summer the heat is not exhausting. The best time to visit San Marino is in the summer and September.

Political and social structure

San Marino is a state with a high social level; the average salary is 3 thousand euros, while a doctor receives about 7 thousand, a teacher - more than 5 thousand. Secondary education and medicine in the country are free.

The form of government of San Marino is a republic. The executive branch is represented by two Captain Regents; they are appointed by the Great General Council, the term of office of each is six months: one performs his duties from April 1 to October 1, the second from October 1 to April 1. The Great General Council is a parliament; he is elected for a term of 5 years; it consists of 60 deputies.

There are 7 law enforcement agencies in the country - the Guard of the Grand General Council, whose task is to ensure the security of parliament and the Captains-Regents (including the guards who guard the Government Palace), the gendarmerie, a special police detachment that maintains order in special circumstances, the civilian police consisting of the volunteers, the Rocca Guard and the Rocca Special Guard (the first most often participates in various festive ceremonies, the second is something between the Constitutional Court and the border troops).

By the way, the crime rate in the state is one of the lowest in Europe.

Sights of the capital

Almost all of the most famous ones are located in the capital of the state.

The central square of the city is called. It is decorated with the Government Palace, built in the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style according to the design of the Italian architect Francesco Azzurri. The building hosts meetings of the national government and the city mayor's office. Tourists can tour the building from the inside on days when there are no meetings, and admire the luxurious interiors of the Voting Hall and the Council Hall. It's worth going up to the roof spiral staircase– from the roof there is a magnificent view of the city. However, the building deserves to be examined from the outside, especially since there are guards standing around it in very colorful old uniforms. The facade is decorated with a figurine of St. Marino.

Another attraction that has become business card cities - The Statue of Liberty, located in the same area. It was made of white marble in 1876 by sculptor Stefano Galetti. Under the square there are containers for collecting rainwater; they have been preserved since the 15th century.

The main state temple is built between 1826 and 1838 in the neoclassical style on the site of an old church dating back to the 4th century, also dedicated to St. Marino. The old church was demolished due to the fact that it was completely dilapidated and practically could not be restored.

The author of the new temple project is the architect Aquilla Serra. The pediment is decorated with the inscription “To Saint Marino, the patron saint who brought freedom. Senate and people." The church is active. Its interior is decorated with ancient statues and unique paintings, as well as 16 Corinthian columns. The decoration of the main altar is a statue of St. Marino, and part of his relics is buried under the altar (the other part is located on the island of Rab, where he was born). Also in the basilica is the Regent's Throne, dating from the early 17th century.

Very close to it there is a very old church, preserved from the 6th century - St. Andrew's Church, which, in addition to its “venerable age”, is famous for the fact that it was a refuge for Giuseppe Garibaldi and his wife Anita in 1849.

Within the city limits there are several, among which -, which contains more than 750 paintings and photographs, the Nature Center, where you can see exhibitions dedicated to the flora and fauna of San Marino, as well as ancient fossil animals that lived on the territory of the state. There is also a place in the city center where you can learn about the history of San Marino. More than 5 thousand ancient exhibits are stored here, including a manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci dedicated to the design of an aircraft.

What else you should definitely see in San Marino is the Crossbowmen's Quarry, a museum of sculptures under open air. The original name is associated with crossbow competitions that took place here in the Middle Ages and continue to this day.

Fortress towers

the country has a regular army, the number of which is... about 100 people;
the most common combination of first and last names among residents is Marco Gasperoni; In general, the name Marco is the second most common male name in the country, with the name Andrea in first place.

How to get to San Marino?

You can get to San Marino by bus from Italy, from the city of Rimini. The fare is 7 euros and the time is about 40 minutes. You can also get here by car - to do this you should take the SS72 highway. Before the Second World War there was also Railway, but then it stopped functioning, and the canvas was disassembled. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the registration rules before planning your trip (the state is located in the visa area of Italy).

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