San Marino: where it is, language, history –

san marino is a small European country located within the limits of Italian territory. It is therefore an enclave. Officially called the Republic of San Marino, the country has a Mediterranean climate and relief marked by the presence of Mount Titano, with land covered by typically Mediterranean vegetation.

With around 34,000 inhabitants, San Marino is one of the least populated countries on the continent. Almost all of its population lives in cities like the capital, also known as San Marino. The Samaritan economy is developed and based on banking and financial services. Domestic production is limited, and the country imports many elements, including electricity, from its neighboring country, Italy.

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Summary about San Marino

• San Marino is a country of 61 km² in extension located in Southern Europe, with its capital in the city of San Marino.

• It is an enclave located in the interior of Italian territory.

• It has a climate and vegetation typical of the Mediterranean region. Its relief is mountainous and its main feature is Mount Titano.

• With 34,000 inhabitants, San Marino is one of the least populated countries in Europe. Its largest city, San Marino, contains just 4,000 inhabitants.

• San Marino has the fifth highest life expectancy in the world and is experiencing an aging population.

• Banking and financial services and tourism form the basis of San Marino’s economy.

• The country was constituted from the chapel built by San Marino in the year 301. Since at least the 12th century it has been an independent territory that has remained far from foreign domination.

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General data of San Marino

• Official name: Republic of San Marino.

• Gentile: samarinese.

• Territorial extension: 61 km².

• Location: Southern Europe.

• Capital: San Marino.

• Climate: Mediterranean.

• Government: parliamentary republic.

• Administrative division: nine municipalities (or castles).

• Language: Italian.

• Religion: roman catholic.

• Population: 34,000 inhabitants.

• Demographic density: 566.8 inhabitants/km².

• Human Development Index (HDI): 0.853.

• Coin: euro.

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$ 1.81 billion.

• GDP per capita: $52,920.

• Gini: not available.

• Time zone: GMT+1.

• Foreign relations:

  • UN;

  • WTO;

  • IMF;

  • World Bank;

  • Council of Europe.

map of San Marino

San Marino Geography

San Marino is a small European country with an area of ​​61 km² located in the southern region of the continent, with the city of San Marino as its capital. The Samarinese territory can be described as an enclave, since is located within the boundaries of Italy, being the only country with which it establishes a border. San Marino is, along with the Vatican and Monaco, one of the smallest countries in Europe.

Although it has no access to the sea, San Marino presents mediterranean climate, conditioned by its proximity to the coast and its geographical position. This type of climate is characterized by hot summerswith an average temperature of 26 °C, and dry, while winters are cold and rainy. In the coldest months, temperatures can drop to -7°C. Annual rainfall in San Marino varies between 500 and 800 mm.

San Marino features relief formed by mountainsmore precisely the Apennines mountain range, and plateaus in most of its extension. The main relief feature of the country is the myesterday Titano, which rises to 739 meters above sea level and constitutes the highest point of the territory. The average elevation of Samaritan land is 55 meters.

• Vegetation of San Marino

San Marino’s vegetation cover is typically mediterraneanformed by trees such as oak, fir, elm and olive trees, as well as low and medium height plants such as shrubs and grasses.

• Hydrography of San Marino

the rivers Marano, San Marino and Ausa are the main waterways that bathe the territory of San Marino. While the San Marino River flows into the Marecchia River in Italy, the others follow their flow towards the Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean.

Demographics of San Marino

San Marino is the second least populous country in Europe, second only to the Vatican. United Nations estimates indicate that 34,000 people live in Samaritan territory. Due to its small area, San Marino has a very high population density, which reaches 566.8 inhab./km². Furthermore, this is a country with a very high rate of urbanization, given that 97.8% of its inhabitants livem in cities like the capital, San Marino, which has 4,000 inhabitants.

The population of San Marino has shown annual growth of 0.59%, exclusively due to immigration, which registers a positive migratory balance for the country at 5.88 migrants per thousand inhabitants. This happens because the country practically equalized birth rates (8.88 live births per thousand inhabitants) and death rates (8.83 deaths per thousand inhabitants), which results in almost zero vegetative growth.

Today San Marino has one of the oldest populations in the world, characterized by the high median age of 45.2 years and the high dependency rate of the elderly in relation to the economically active population. Added to this is the fact that San Marino has a good quality of life, which is reflected in the fifth highest life expectancy in the world, which is 84.05 years old.

See too: Why is Europe’s population ageing?

economy of san marino

Despite being small, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.8 billion dollars, San Marino has a developed economy based on the tertiary sector, with emphasis on banking and financial services. The per capita income of the population of San Marino is high and amounts to $55,000 a year, reflecting, in part, the high quality of life found in the country. It should also be noted that San Marino is not part of the European Union, but reached an agreement with the economic bloc and started using the euro as its official currency.

San Marino has less than 17% of land occupied with agricultural crops, most of them temporary crops. The country’s main crops are wheat, corn, grapes and olives. Samaritan industry accounts for a share of 39.2% of the national GDP and is concentrated in the textile, electronics and beverage sectors, more precisely in wine production. Due to the limitation of economic activities in San Marino, the country supplies its domestic market by importing products from Italy.

Together with services, activities related to tourism constitute the basis of San Marino’s economy. Annually the country receives about 85 thousand visitors, who seek to know a little about the history of one of the smallest countries in Europe, reflected in its natural landscape, its museums, cathedrals, medieval castles and historical and cultural centers. In addition, the possibilities for outdoor activities and medieval and music festivals are attractive to tourists.

Check out some of the below main attractions of San Marino.

Infrastructure of San Marino

San Marino is a very small country that has a network of urban (or social) infrastructure that serves its entire population. Therefore, all inhabitants of this territory have access to basic sanitation networks and safe sources of drinking water. Electricity also reaches every home in San Marino. Due to its limited space and resources, however, the electricity consumed in San Marino is imported from Italy. This is, in fact, the main import item of the Samaritan economy.

Transport within San Marino is carried out exclusively by road. The country has a road network of approximately 300 km. To get there from abroad or to travel to other countries, it is necessary to use Italian airports. As for trains, since at least the 1930s there has been no access to the country by this means of transport.

Government of San Marino

O democratic parliamentarism representative is the system of government of San Marino. The executive branch is in charge of two regent captains, who are elected to serve terms of just six months, with no right to re-election. Elections for the Executive in San Marino therefore take place twice a year, more precisely in the months of April and October.

San Marino’s legislative power is exercised by the Samaritan Parliament, better known as the Grand and General Council. It is a unicameral body composed of 60 members. The members of the Legislative, unlike the Executive, have terms of five years, and if necessary, elections have two rounds.

Etymology of San Marino

The name of San Marino is derived from San Marino (or San Marino, in Italian). Marino, as he was known before his sanctification, was of Roman origin and was a stonemason (he dedicated himself to building in blocks of rock). At one period of his life, he decided to abandon his activities and became a hermit. He isolated himself on Mount Titano, where, in the year 301, built the chapel and monastery around which the country expanded. During that interval, there were many rumors about miraculous deeds performed by him, which led to his sanctification.

Culture of San Marino

san marino it is an italian speaking country in which the predominant religion is Roman Catholic, although there is no official religion of the Samarinese State. The country has many small museums and elements in its cultural landscape that recount the entire history of Samaritans, in addition to having a university, the University of the Republic of San Marino, where important studies in the humanities are carried out, notably in history, communication and culture, as well as economics, law and biomedicine.

Football is the main sport played in the country, which has its own national team. san marino Also known for Formula 1, giving its name to the San Marino Grand Prix, which takes place in Imola, Italy. The last race took place in 2006, after more than two decades of disputes. San Marino cuisine is very similar to Italian. The country’s main dish is a dessert called tre monti pieor three towers cake, made with wafer and chocolate.

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