Southern Europe · EuropeSan Marino
Discover San Marino - the world's oldest surviving republic, a 61 km2 micro-state perched on Mount Titano in the heart of Italy.
Where Is San Marino?
San Marino is a country in Southern Europe. Its capital is City of San Marino.
- Capital City of San Marino
- Population 34.1K
- Area 61 km²
San Marino claims to be the world's oldest surviving republic, founded in 301 AD by a Christian stonemason named Marinus who fled Roman persecution and established a community on Mount Titano. Whether or not the founding date is exactly right, the republic has been continuously self-governing for well over a millennium, which is genuinely impressive for a micro-state of 61 square kilometers entirely surrounded by Italy.
The country sits atop Mount Titano in the Apennines, and the views from the three medieval towers that crown the ridgeline are spectacular - on a clear day you can see the Adriatic coast. San Marino has its own stamps (collectors love them), its own football team (which has won exactly one competitive international match in its entire history), and a peculiar governing system where two Captains Regent serve as joint heads of state for exactly six months at a time. It's tiny, it's touristy, and it's entirely possible to walk across the entire country in a day, but there's something charming about a place that has stubbornly maintained its independence while empires rose and fell around it.
At a glance
Largest cities in San Marino
City of San Marino
Dogana
Borgo Maggiore
Serravalle
Famous people from San Marino
Saint Marinus
OtherChristian stonemason from Rab who founded the republic in 301 AD, the patron saint and namesake of the country
Giambattista Belluzzi
ScienceRenaissance military architect who designed fortifications across Italy and wrote influential treatises
Little Tony
MusicItalian pop star with San Marino citizenship, popular across Europe in the 1960s and 70s
Traditional cuisine of San Marino
- Torta Tre Monti
- Three Mountains Cake - layers of wafer and chocolate representing the three towers of San Marino
- Piadina
- Thin flatbread filled with prosciutto, cheese, and arugula, shared with the surrounding Romagna region
- Pasta e Ceci
- Hearty chickpea and pasta soup, a traditional Sammarinese comfort food
- Nidi di Rondine
- Swallow's Nests - pasta rolls stuffed with ham, cheese, and beef in béchamel sauce
- Bustrengo
- Traditional cake made with breadcrumbs, dried fruits, nuts, and honey, baked for Christmas
Nature and landmarks in San Marino
- Three Towers of San MarinoLandmark
- Three medieval fortifications on Mount Titano's peaks - Guaita, Cesta, and Montale - symbols of the republic
- Mount TitanoMountain
- The 739m mountain that the entire country sits upon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with panoramic Adriatic views
- Palazzo PubblicoLandmark
- The government building on Piazza della Liberta, where the Captains Regent are inaugurated
Sports in San Marino
- Football
- San Marino's national team is one of the weakest in the world but scored a famous goal against England in 1993 after 8.3 seconds
- Motorsport
- The San Marino Grand Prix was held at Imola until 2006, despite the circuit being in Italy
- Shooting
- Competitive in Olympic shooting sports, one of the country's best chances for medals
- Baseball
- Surprisingly competitive in European baseball, regularly reaching continental championships
Did you know?
San Marino is the world's oldest surviving republic, claiming to have been founded in 301 AD
The Historic Centre of San Marino and Mount Titano form a UNESCO World Heritage Site
San Marino has more cars than people - over 1.6 vehicles per citizen
Abraham Lincoln was granted honorary citizenship of San Marino in 1861 and called it a symbol of liberty
The national football team won its first-ever competitive match in September 2024, a 1-0 Nations League victory over Liechtenstein
San Marino refused to join Italy during unification, maintaining independence through diplomacy
The country has two heads of state (Captains Regent) who serve together for just six months at a time
Can you find San Marino on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place San Marino and its neighbours without a second thought.
