Euro Travel Pages

Serene San Marino

The country is officially called The Most Serene Republic of San Marino and for a very good reason. It stood a decidedly neutral stand in the face of some of the world’s major wars. Throughout history, it was careful in choosing its battles and deciding to stay in the sidelines when everybody was already fighting for their advocacies. It also chose not to join the kingdom of Italy back in 1861. San Marino is said to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world founded on September 3, 301. This has yet to be verified by scholars but the country does have the oldest written constitution that is still being applied to this day. The country’s constitution was drafted in the 1600s.

Being the third smallest nation in the world didn’t hinder this country from trying to make a name for itself in the international arena. In spite of being seemingly overshadowed by its neighbor Italy, San Marino has managed to retain some of its culture that has been handed down over the centuries. These days, tourism is one of the country’s major economic drivers, making up more than half of its national revenue. The people of this little country are now considered one of the most affluent in Europe and the rest of the world.

People and culture

Italian is the official language of the country but Emiliano-Romagnolo is widely spoken by majority of its residents. This is a Romance Language that is quite like Italian. According to recent census, nine out of ten San Marinese live in urbanized areas.

The culture of the country is mainly influenced by its Italian neighbor as well as its dominant religion. Majority of San Marino’s population is Roman Catholic. Many of its residents still observe religious holidays and traditions to this day. Catholic holy days are still important occasions in the country and they also attract much tourist attention. Most of the country’s population is concentrated in the capital city. Other densely populated areas include Borgo Maggiore, a market town located below the capital and Serravalle which is found at the northern portion and is considered a manufacturing center.

Tourist destinations

San Marino is one of those little countries that you would just love visiting over and over because they manage to retain classics and merge them with modernist ideologies. The country’s capital which bears the same name is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area. Also considered the largest city, it is perched on the upper slopes of Mount Titano. The whole city offers a breathtaking view of the whole country down below. It welcomes thousands of tourists each year because of its brilliant architecture and the scenic vistas that it offer.

Also on Mount Titano is the La Rocca Tower, another tourist spot. This eleventh century tower fortress stands on one of the mountain’s three summits. It offers a great view of the Adriatic Sea and the countryside below. Originally, La Rocca was a prison fortress but these days, it is a tourist favorite.