Buongiorno! Welcome to the oldest republic in the world—San Marino!

Our journey brings us to San Marino, a mountainous microstate surrounded entirely by Italy. There are around 30,000 people living here, and the capital is the City of San Marino, which sits high atop a jagged limestone ridge. The official language is Italian, though many residents also speak the local Sammarinese dialect.

San Marino covers about 61 square kilometers (24 square miles). To imagine its size, the country is roughly the same size as Manhattan. It is the fifth-smallest country in the world and is dominated by the spectacular peaks of Mount Titano.

The most popular sport is Football, but the country has an incredible passion for Motorsports, famously hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix for many years. Their national animal is the Horse, though the Crested Porcupine is a more elusive resident of their rocky slopes.

The flag consists of two horizontal stripes of white and blue with the national coat of arms in the center, where the white represents the snow on Mount Titano and the blue symbolizes the sky and liberty.

The food is deeply influenced by the surrounding Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. You must try Torta Tre Monti (Cake of the Three Mountains), a thin, crispy wafer cake layered with chocolate and hazelnut cream that represents the country’s famous towers. Another favorite is Nidi di Rondine (Swallows’ Nests), a baked pasta dish filled with ham, cheese, and tomato sauce. You’ll also find excellent local Wine and Honey, which have been produced on these slopes for centuries.

San Marino is home to the Three Towers of San Marino (Guaita, Cesta, and Montale), ancient fortresses that crown the peaks of Mount Titano and offer breathtaking views all the way to the Adriatic Sea. The country features the Public Palace (Palazzo Pubblico), where the colorful Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place during the summer. You can visit the San Marino Basilica, a neoclassical church that holds the relics of Saint Marinus, the stonemason who founded the republic in the year 301. Interestingly, San Marino has two heads of state, known as Captains Regent, who are elected every six months to ensure a balance of power!

From the medieval narrow streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town to the historic Crossbow Corps demonstrations, San Marino is a land of ancient independence and towering beauty. Grazie! That means “Thank you!”