San Marino may be one of the smallest nations in the world, but it is also one of the most beautiful. It's a bit tough to get to as it is surrounded by Italy in the heart of the Apennine Mountains. We traveled here by train from Rome to Rimini, then took a bus from Rimini to the town of San Marino in March of 2012.
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Marino was started in the year 301 by Saint Marinus, a stonecutter from
Dalmatia, in the Roman Empire. Since then, the country remained
independent thorough the fall of the Roman empire and arguments over it
ownership in 885. The country formed it's constitution and created the
republic in 1253. That document is still in effect today. Instead of
expanding their territory early on, San Marino entered into a number of
alliances. However, after wining a war with Rimini in 1463, with
support from the Pope, San Marino was able to expand it's territory to
61 sq. km, it's current size today. In 1797 Napoleon gave legitimacy to
its sovereignty and in 1871, San Marino decided to remain independent
when Italy became a new country. Today, San Marino has a close economic
relationship with Italy, but remains independent politically. |
