In the heart of Europe, there are nooks that escape the distracted look of travelers. Even between the fertile plains and the soft hills of one of the most visited regions of the continent, there are still reserved surprises to those who move away from the main routes. In the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, known for the extensive beaches of Rimini and the gastronomic richness of cities, such as Bologna, Modena or Parma, visitors can, without realizing themselves, cross to another country.
A republic surrounded by Italy
It is the Republic of St. Marino, one of the smallest countries in the world, situated to a scarce kilometers of the Adriatic Sea. There is no border control or customs stations, just a discreet sign on the road welcoming the so-called “old land of freedom.”
According to CNN, St. Marino is not an ordinary Italian town. Although its inhabitants speak Italian and local cuisine is confused with that of neighboring regions, it is an independent republic, with territory, currency, government and its own identity.
Centuries of independence and a singular system
Founded in the fourth century, St. Marino affirms himself as the oldest republic in the world still in operation. According to the same source, there are two heads of state, called regulatory captains, elected every six months, a practice that has been maintained since 1243.
It adds the publication that, with an area of only 61.2 km², is larger than Monaco or Vatican, but remains the smallest democratic nation in Europe. Their 34,000 inhabitants, the Sammarinesi, maintain a strong awareness of belonging and a connection rooted to local traditions.
An old town with walls and legends
The historic city, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, stands on Mount Titano, offering wide views of the sea and, on clear days, even on Costa da Croatia. Explains the publication that medieval walls and narrow cars without cars make up a preserved scenario, marked by old towers and stone buildings.
Among the most visited places are the three fortified towers, linked by a rail on the mountain summit. The buildings, once used for defense, are now publicly accessible museums, including weapon collections and a panoramic path known as “Witch Way.”
Religious origin and artisanal heritage
It is also known that the foundation of the country dates back to the figure of St. Marino, a Christian bricklayer who will have fled the Roman persecution in the early fourth century. The saint’s relics are stored in the local basilica, which also preserves the “stone bed” where, according to tradition, he will have slept.
For centuries, the Sammarinese economy was based on the stone cut. After World War II there were small handcrafted industries, including ceramic, furniture and paper manufacture.
Traditions, institutions and ceremonies
The Republic preserves a democratic system structured in nine Castelli, or districts, each led by an elected captain. It refers to the same source that all these power balances aim to prevent excessive concentration of authority.
In summer, the Public Palace opens the doors to visitors, who watch the ceremonial exchange of the guard every hour. Colorful uniforms and protocol rigor are part of a little ritual that has changed in centuries.
The mountain, the museum and the dessert
Visitors can use a panoramic cable car to get down to Borgo Maggiore castle at the base of the mountain. In the old town, the Seal and Mint museum presents pieces from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, revealing part of the country’s economic and symbolic history.
Saint Marino is also sought by those who practice walking, climbing and cycling, thanks to the rails on the wooded slopes of Mount Titano. Local gastronomy reflects the influence of neighboring regions, with emphasis on handcrafted pasta and piadine, a stuffed flat bread.
According to, the sweets includes liqueurs, such as Amaretto and Tracacchione, and the TRE Monti pie, made with cookie layers, chocolate and hazelnut cream, which honors the three emblematic towers of the city-state.
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