Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino Most Serene Republic of San Marino
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Libertas  (Latin) "Liberty"
Anthem: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica"
Location of  San Marino  (circled in inset) on the European continent  (white)
Capital		City of San Marino 43°56′N 12°27′E / 43.933, 12.45
Largest city		Dogana
Official languages		Italian1
Demonym		Sammarinese; San Marinese
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	Captains Regent	Federico Pedini Amati (PSD) Rosa Zafferani (PDSC)
-	Secretary of State	Fiorenzo Stolfi (PSD)
Independence		from the Roman Empire
-	Date	September 3, 301 (traditional)
Area
-	Total	61 km² (223rd) 23. The state and war Flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed The Coat of arms of San Marino probably originates in the 14th Century, and can be seen as a whole as a symbol of freedom and independence of the oldest A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's The Inno Nazionale is the National anthem of the Republic of San Marino. The City of San Marino is the Capital City of the Republic of San Marino on the Italian peninsula near the Adriatic Sea. The population of San Marino comprises native Sammarinese and Italian citizens An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A parliamentary republic or parliamentary constitutional republic is a form of a Republic which operates under a Parliamentary system of government The Captains Regent ( Capitani Reggenti) of San Marino are elected every six months by the small country's Grand and General Council. Federico Pedini Amati (born 11 August 1976) was Captain Regent of San Marino for the term from 1 April 2008 to October The Party of Socialists and Democrats ( Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici, PSD is a social-democratic political party in San Marino. Rosa Zafferani (born August 16, 1960) is a San Marinese politician The Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party ( Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese, PDCS is a christian-democratic political party in San Marino Secretary of State is a commonly used title for a Government Official. Fiorenzo Stolfi (born 1956) is the Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairsand Secretary of State for Economic Planning of San Marino. The Party of Socialists and Democrats ( Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici, PSD is a social-democratic political party in San Marino. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius For the article see Article 301 (Turkish penal code. Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Diocletian issues his Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare sizes of different geographic regions we list here Areas between 10 km² (1000 Hectares and 100 km² (10000 hectares This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. 5 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2007 estimate	29,615 (212th)
-	Density	481/km² (20th) 1,225/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2001 estimate
-	Total	$904 million (195th)
-	Per capita	$34,600 (12th)
HDI (2003)		n/a (unranked) (n/a)
Currency		Euro (€) (EUR)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD		.sm
Calling code		+378  (0549 from Italy)
Patron saint		St. Agatha
1 SAN MARINO. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. Daylight saving time ( DST Central European Summer Time ( CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members For communities named after St Agatha see Sainte-Agathe. Saint Agatha of Sicily or Saint Agatha (died 251 is a Christian UNECE. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member States

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino (Italian: Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino) is a country in the Apennine Mountains. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. It is a landlocked enclave, completely surrounded by Italy. A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest One of the European microstates, San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe and the 3rd highest GDP per capita in the world. The European microstates or ministates are a handful of very small sovereign States on the European Continent and the surrounding islands The Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe is the oldest International organisation working towards European integration, being founded in 1949 This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product Per capita at Nominal values, the

San Marino claims to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world and that it was founded on 3 September 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius For the article see Article 301 (Turkish penal code. Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Diocletian issues his Saint Marinus was the founder of one of the world's oldest surviving Republics San Marino, in 301 Rab ( Italian Arbe, German: Arbey) is an island and a town of the same name located just off the northern Croatian coast in A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of Civilization - creating Buildings structures and Sculpture using stone from the earth In its first three centuries the Christian church endured periods of persecution at the hands of Roman authorities The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate San Marino's constitution, dating back to 1600, is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. ^[1]

History

Main article: History of San Marino

Montale tower on Monte Titano. The history of San Marino is both very European and typical for the Italian Peninsula, and yet helps explain its unusual characteristics as the sole remaining Italian City-state Monte Titano is the highest peak in San Marino, in the Apennines.

According to tradition, Marinus left the island of Rab in Croatia with his lifelong friend Leo and went to the town of Rimini as a stone worker. Rab ( Italian Arbe, German: Arbey) is an island and a town of the same name located just off the northern Croatian coast in Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Rimini is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. After persecution because of his Christian sermons, he escaped to the nearby Monte Titano, where he built a small church and thus founded what is now the city and the state of San Marino. Monte Titano is the highest peak in San Marino, in the Apennines. The official date of foundation of the Republic is 3 September 301. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius For the article see Article 301 (Turkish penal code. Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Diocletian issues his

By the mid-5th century, a community was formed; because of its relatively inaccessible location and its poverty, it has succeeded, with a few brief interruptions, in maintaining its independence. In 1631 its independence was recognised by the papacy.

Bust of Giuseppe Garibaldi in San Marino, the first monument in the world dedicated to the "Hero of the Two Worlds". Garibaldi redirects here for other meanings see Garibaldi (disambiguation. The work of Stefano Galletti, it was erected in 1882.

During the early phase of the Italian unification process of the 19th century, San Marino served as a haven of refuge for numerous persons who were persecuted because of their support for the unification. Italian Unification ( Italian: il Risorgimento, or "The Resurgence" was the political and social movement that unified different states of the Italian In memory of this support, Giuseppe Garibaldi accepted the wish of San Marino not to be incorporated into the new Italian state. Garibaldi redirects here for other meanings see Garibaldi (disambiguation. Napoleon III refused to take the country. Napoléon III, also known as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (full name Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte) (20 April 1808 9 January 1873 was the first President He commented, "Why? It's a model republic!"

The government of San Marino made United States President Abraham Lincoln an honorary citizen. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal He wrote in reply, saying that the republic proved that "government founded on republican principles is capable of being so administered as to be secure and enduring. "^[2]

In World War I, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All San Marino declared war on Austria-Hungary on 3 June 1915. ^[3]

In World War II, San Marino did not join Italy in declaring war on the United Kingdom in 1940. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located San Marino immediately declared its neutrality. Later, Axis forces retreated through the country and were pursued by the American and British forces. The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries The Allied troops left the country a few weeks later. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War.

The head of state is a committee (council) of two captains-regent. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state San Marino also holds the record for the world's first democratically-elected communist government, which held office between 1945 and 1957. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar)

San Marino was the world's smallest republic from 301 to 1968, until Nauru gained independence. For the article see Article 301 (Turkish penal code. Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Diocletian issues his Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, is an Island nation in the Micronesian South Pacific.

San Marino became a member of the Council of Europe in 1988 and of the United Nations in 1992. The Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe is the oldest International organisation working towards European integration, being founded in 1949 The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security It is not a member of the European Union. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Geography

Main article: Geography of San Marino

Much of the Republic can be seen from the top of Mount Titano

San Marino is an enclave in Italy, on the border between the regioni of Emilia Romagna and Marche. San Marino is located in Southern Europe, an enclave (landlocked in central Italy, which it borders for 39 km Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. The capital is Bologna. The Marche (plural originally from le marche de Ancona, referring to the March of Ancona) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. Its topography is dominated by the Apennines mountain range, and it has a rugged terrain. The highest point in the country, Monte Titano, is situated at 749 metres (2,457 ft) above sea level. Monte Titano is the highest peak in San Marino, in the Apennines. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit There are no bodies of water of any significant size.

San Marino is the third-smallest country in Europe, with only Vatican City and Monaco smaller. Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City (Stato della Città del Vaticano is a Landlocked sovereign City-state whose territory For other uses see Monaco (disambiguation Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco ( French: Principauté de Monaco; Monégasque

Climate

The climate is Mediterranean, with warm summers and mild winters. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide The National Center of Meteorology and Climatology of San Marino provides local forecasts. Proposed weather services for business and the public include Web cams and Online meteorological and climate data of San Marino. Meteo San Marino - The National Center of Meteorology And Climatology of San Marino

Municipalities

Administrative division. Examples of administrative divisions English terms In many of the following terms corresponding to British cultural influence areas of relatively low mean population

San Marino is divided into the following nine municipalities, known locally as Castelli -castles- (sing. castello, each on a different hill, as depicted on the republic's coat of arms), that are also towns to the world.

• The City of San Marino (Città di San Marino) is the capital. The City of San Marino is the Capital City of the Republic of San Marino on the Italian peninsula near the Adriatic Sea. There are also eight minor municipalities:

• Acquaviva
• Borgo Maggiore
• Chiesanuova
• Domagnano
• Faetano
• Fiorentino
• Montegiardino
• Serravalle

The largest town of the Republic is Dogana, which is not an autonomous Castello but rather belongs to the Castello of Serravalle. Acquaviva is one of the 9 communes or "castelli" of San Marino. Borgo Maggiore is one of the 9 communes or "castelli" of San Marino. Chiesanuova is a minor municipality of San Marino. It has a population of 1029 inhabitants (conditions 2006 in an area of 5 Domagnano is a munipacility in San Marino. It has 2865 inhabitants (conditions 2006 in an area of 6 Faetano is one of the 9 communes or "castelli" of San Marino. Fiorentino is one of the 9 communes or "castelli" of the Republic of San Marino. Montegiardino is one of the 9 communes or "castelli" of San Marino. Serravalle is a castello located in the small European republic of San Marino.

Each castello, like Italian comuni, includes a main town that is the seat of the castello, called capoluogo, and some even smaller localities known as frazioni. In Italy, the comune, (plural comuni) is the basic Administrative division of both provinces and regions and may be properly approximated in A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a Comune; for other Administrative

Politics

Main article: Politics of San Marino

Map of San Marino

The Politics of San Marino takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Captains Regent are the heads of state, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Politics of San Marino takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Captains Regent are the A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The Captains Regent ( Capitani Reggenti) of San Marino are elected every six months by the small country's Grand and General Council. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Grand and General Council. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Grand and General Council ( Consiglio Grande e Generale) is the Parliament of San Marino. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

San Marino was originally led by the Arengo, initially formed with the heads of each family. The Arengo was the name of the assembly that ruled San Marino from the fifth century C In the 13th century, power was given to the Great and General Council. In 1243, the first two Captains Regent were nominated by the Council. The Captains Regent ( Capitani Reggenti) of San Marino are elected every six months by the small country's Grand and General Council. This method of nomination is still in use today, as of 2008. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

The legislature of the republic is the Grand and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale). The Grand and General Council ( Consiglio Grande e Generale) is the Parliament of San Marino. The Council is a unicameral legislature which has 60 members with elections occurring every 5 years under a proportional representation system in all nine administrative districts. These districts (townships) correspond to the old parishes of the republic. A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches Citizens eighteen years or older are eligible to vote. Besides general legislation, the Grand and General Council approves the budget and elects the Captains Regent, the State Congress (composed of 10 Secretaries with executive power), the Council of Twelve (which forms the judicial branch during the period of legislature of the Council), the Advising Commissions, and the Government Unions. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State The Council also has the power to ratify treaties with other countries. The Council is divided into five different Advising Commissions consisting of 15 councilors which examine, propose, and discuss the implementation of new laws that are on their way to being presented on the floor of the Council.

The Honorable Fiorenzo Stolfi, Secretary for Foreign and Political Affairs and for Economic Planning of the Republic of San Marino and President of the Council of Europe, meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, DC. The Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe is the oldest International organisation working towards European integration, being founded in 1949 Condoleezza Rice (born November 14 1954 is the 66th United States

Every 6 months, the Council elects two Captains Regent to be the heads of state. The Regents are chosen from opposing parties so there is a balance of power. They serve a 6-month term. The investiture of the Captains Regent takes place on April 1 and October 1 in every year. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Once this term is over, citizens have 3 days in which to file complaints about the Captains' activities. If they warrant it, judicial proceedings against the ex-head(s) of state can be initiated.

The practice of multiple heads of state, as well as the frequent re-election of the heads of state, are derived directly from the customs of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the The Council is equivalent to the Roman Senate; the Captains Regent, to the consuls of ancient Rome. The Roman Senate was a political institution in Ancient Rome. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

San Marino is a multi-party democratic republic. Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The two main parties are the Democratic Christian Party of San Marino (PDCS) and the Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD, a merger of the Socialist Party of San Marino and the Party of Democrats) in addition to several other smaller parties. The Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party ( Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese, PDCS is a christian-democratic political party in San Marino The Party of Socialists and Democrats ( Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici, PSD is a social-democratic political party in San Marino. The Sammarinese Socialist Party ( Partito Socialista Sammarinese, PSS was a social-democratic political party in San Marino. The Party of Democrats ( Partito dei Democratici, PD was a social-democratic political party in San Marino. Due to the small size of San Marino and its low population, it is difficult for any party to gain a pure majority and most of the time the government is run by a coalition. As a result of the June 2001 election, the PDCS and PSS control a majority of seats in the Council.

Economy

Main article: Economy of San Marino

Borgo Maggiore

Although San Marino is not a European Union member, it is allowed to use the euro as its currency by arrangement with the council of the European Union; it is also granted the right to use its own designs on the national side of the euro coins. Economy - overview In San Marino the tourist sector contributes over 50% of Gross domestic product. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Linguistic Before the euro, the Sammarinese lira was pegged and exchangeable with the Italian lira. The lira (plural lire) was the currency of San Marino from the 1860s until the introduction of the Euro in 2002 The lira (plural lire) was the Currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002 The small number of Sammarinese euro coins, as was the case with the lira before it, are primarily of interest to coin collectors. Coin collecting is the Collecting or trading of Coins or other forms of legally minted currency

The tourist sector contributes over 50% of San Marino's GDP, with more than 3. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel 3 million tourists visiting in 1997. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar ^[4] Other key industries are banking, electronics, and ceramics. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving Electrons through Nonmetal conductors (mainly Semiconductors, whereas electrical The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός ( keramikos) The main agricultural products are wine and cheese. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation.

San Marino's postage stamps, which are only valid for mail posted within the country, are mostly sold to philatelists and also form a source of income. A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services Philately is the study and collecting of revenue and postage stamps San Marino is a member of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation. The Small European Postal Administration Cooperation (also Small European Postal Administrations Cooperation or SEPAC is a group of small European postal authorities

The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

Taxation

Photo of Guaita

The corporate profits tax rate in San Marino is 19 percent. Capital gains are subject to a five percent tax; interest is subject to a 13 percent withholding tax.

In 1972, a valued added taxation (VAT) system was introduced in Italy, and was applied in San Marino, in accordance with the 1939 friendship treaty. In addition, a tax on imported goods, to be levied by San Marino, was established. Such taxes, however, were not, and are not, applied to national products. Until 1996, goods manufactured and sold in San Marino were not subject to indirect taxation.

Under the European Union customs agreement, San Marino continues to levy taxes, the equivalent of an import duty, on imported goods. Also, a general VAT was introduced, in replacement of the Italian VAT.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of San Marino

The state has a population of approximately 29,000, including 1,000 foreigners, most of whom are Italians. The population of San Marino comprises native Sammarinese and Italian citizens About 5,000 Sammarinese live in foreign countries, predominantly in Italy.

The language spoken is Italian; Emiliano-Romagnolo is widely spoken, too. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Emiliano-Romagnolo (also known as Emilian-Romagnolo) is a Romance language mostly spoken in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion.

Further information: Demographics of Italy

Military

Main article: Military of San Marino

The Guard of the Rock in dress uniform during the investiture of the new Captains Regent in the Piazza della Libertà. San Marino has one of the smallest military forces in the world

San Marino has one of the smallest military forces in the world. National defence is, by arrangement, the responsibility of Italy's armed forces. The Italian Armed forces are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council presided over by the President of the Italian Republic. Different branches have varied functions including: performing ceremonial duties; patrolling borders; mounting guard at government buildings; and assisting police in major criminal cases.

Crossbow Corps

Although once at the heart of San Marino's army, the Crossbow Corps is now an entirely ceremonial force of about 80 volunteer soldiers. The Crossbow Corps since 1295 has provided demonstrations of crossbow shooting at festivals. Its uniform is medieval in design, and although it is a statutory military unit, it has no actual military function today.

Guard of the Rock

Three members of the Guard of the Rock

The Guard of the Rock is a front-line military unit in the San Marino armed forces, a state border patrol, with responsibility for patrolling borders and defending them. Guardia di Rocca (National Guard/Guard of the Rock are a front-line military unit in the San Marino armed forces, who also carry out day to day law enforcement duties In their role as Fortress Guards they are also responsible for the guarding of the Palazzo Pubblico in San Marino City, which is the seat of national Government. The City of San Marino is the Capital City of the Republic of San Marino on the Italian peninsula near the Adriatic Sea. In this role they are the forces most visible to tourists, and known for their colourful ceremony of Changing the Guard. Under the 1987 statute the Guard of the Rock are all enrolled as 'Criminal Police Officers' (in addition to their military role) and act to assist the police in investigating major crime. The uniform of the Guard of the Rock is distinctively red and green in colour.

Guard of the Council Great and General

A member of the Guard of the Council

The Guard of the Council Great and General commonly known as The Guard of the Council or locally as the 'Guard of Nobles', formed in 1740, are a volunteer unit with ceremonial duties. Due to its striking blue white and gold uniform, it is perhaps the best-known part of the Sammarinese military, and appears on countless postcard views of the republic. The functions of the Guard of the Council are to protect the Captains Regent, and to defend the Great and General Council during its formal sessions. The Captains Regent ( Capitani Reggenti) of San Marino are elected every six months by the small country's Grand and General Council. They also provide a ceremonial bodyguard to government officials on festivals of both state and church.

The Army Militia

In former times all families with two or more adult male members were required to enroll half of them in the Army Militia. This unit remains the basic fighting force of the armed forces of San Marino, but is largely ceremonial. It is a matter of civic pride for many San-Marinese to belong to the force, and all citizens with at least six years residence in the republic are entitled to enroll.

The uniform is dark blue, with a kepi bearing a blue and white plume. The ceremonial form of the uniform includes a white cross-strap, and white and blue sash, white epaulets, and white decorated cuffs.

The Military Ensemble

Formally this is part of the Army Militia, and is the ceremonial military band of San Marino. It consists of around 50 musicians. The uniform is largely similar to that of the Army Militia itself. The music of the Military Ensemble accompanies most state occasions in the republic.

The Gendarmerie

Established in 1842, the Gendarmerie of San Marino is a militarised police service. Corps of Gendarmerie of San Marino (Corpo della Gendarmeria della Repubblica di San Marino are the Gendarmerie force responsible for law enforcement in San Marino Its members are full-time and have responsibility for the protection of citizens and their property, and for the preservation of law and order.

The entire military corps of San Marino depends upon the co-operation of full-time forces and their retained (volunteer) colleagues, known as the Corpi Militari Volontari, or Voluntary Military Force.

Transport

Aerial tramway to Monte Titano.

Main article: Transport in San Marino

There are 220 km of highways in the country, the main road being the San Marino Superhighway. San Marino is a small European republic with limited public transport facilities * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve San Marino Highway (known simply as the Superstrada to locals is the main road in San Marino. Roads are well used by private car drivers. Sammarinese authorities license private vehicles with distinctive licence plates which are white with blue figures with the coat of arms, usually a letter followed by up to four numbers. Many vehicles also carry the international vehicle identification code (in black on a white oval sticker), which is "RSM".

There are no airports in San Marino, but there is an international heliport located in Borgo Maggiore. A heliport is a small Airport suitable only for use by Helicopters Heliports typically contain one or more Helipads and may have limited facilities such Most tourists who arrive by air land at Federico Fellini International Airport close to the city of Rimini and then make the transfer by bus. Federico Fellini International Airport is an Airport located at Miramare, 8 kilometres (5 miles away from the city of Rimini, Italy and Rimini is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini.

Two rivers flow through San Marino, but there is no major water transport, and no major port or harbour. A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored

Public transport

San Marino has limited public transport facilities. There is a regular bus service between Rimini and the city of San Marino, popular with both tourists and tourist industry workers commuting to San Marino from Italy. Rimini is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel This service stops at approximately twenty advertised locations in Rimini and within San Marino, with its two terminus stops at Rimini railway station and San Marino coach station, respectively.

A limited licensed taxi service operates nationwide. There are seven licensed taxi operating companies in the republic,^[5] and Italian taxis regularly operate within San Marino when carrying passengers picked up in Italian territory.

There is a 1. 5 km aerial tramway connecting the city of San Marino on top of Monte Titano with Borgo Maggiore, a major town in the republic, with the second largest population of any Sammarinese settlement. An aerial tramway is a type of Aerial lift in which a cabin is suspended from a cable and is pulled by another cable A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status The City of San Marino is the Capital City of the Republic of San Marino on the Italian peninsula near the Adriatic Sea. Monte Titano is the highest peak in San Marino, in the Apennines. Borgo Maggiore is one of the 9 communes or "castelli" of San Marino. Indeed, for the tourist visitor the aerial tramway gives the best available views of Borgo Maggiore, as the cars sweep low over the rooftops of the main town square. From here a further connection is available to the nation's largest settlement, Dogana, by means of local bus service.

Sanmarinese international bus service link with Rimini, Italy.

Two aerial tramway cars, known as gondolas, and numbered '1' and '2', operate in opposition on a cable, and a service is provided at roughly fifteen minute intervals throughout the day. A third vehicle is available on the system, being a service car for the use of engineers maintaining the tramway.

Railway

Today there is no railway in San Marino, but for a short period prior to World War II, it had a single narrow-gauge line, connecting the country with the Italian rail network at Rimini. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Rimini is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and capital city of the Province of Rimini. Due the difficulties in accessing the capital, San Marino City (which has a mountain-top location), the terminus station was to be located at the village of Valdragone but was extended to reach the capital through a steep and winding track comprising many tunnels. The City of San Marino is the Capital City of the Republic of San Marino on the Italian peninsula near the Adriatic Sea. Geography The village is divided into two areas Valdragone di Sopra and Valdragone di Sotto See also Borgo Maggiore Cà Melone The railway was opened on 12 June 1932. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[6] An advanced system for its time, it was an electric railway, powered from overhead cables. It was well built and well used, but was almost completely destroyed during the fighting in this region during World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Many disused artifacts such as bridges, tunnels and stations are still clearly visible today, and in some cases have been refurbished and converted to parks, public footpaths or traffic routes.

Culture

The Three Towers of San Marino are located on the three peaks of Monte Titano in the capital. The Three Towers of San Marino are a group of towers located in the small European country of San Marino. Monte Titano is the highest peak in San Marino, in the Apennines. They are depicted on both the Flag of San Marino and its coat of arms. The state and war Flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed The Coat of arms of San Marino probably originates in the 14th Century, and can be seen as a whole as a symbol of freedom and independence of the oldest The three towers are: Guaita, the oldest of the three (it was constructed in the eleventh century); the thirteenth-century Cesta, located on the highest of Monte Titano's summits; and the fourteenth-century Montale, on the smallest of Monte Titano's summits, still privately owned.

San Marino has a famous cake known as La Torta Di Tre Monti ("Cake of the Three Mountains/Towers"), similar to a layered wafer cake covered in Chocolate. Cake is a form of Food that is usually sweet and often baked. Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree

Love Orchestra, a Gian Luca "Luke" Mazza new age music project, comes from the Republic of San Marino. During concerts overseas, the San Marino flag is shown on the stage.

University

The Scuola Superiore di Studi Storici in San Marino (Advanced School of Historical Studies) is a distinguished research and advanced international study center. The Scuola Superiore di Studi Storici in San Marino (Advanced School of Historical Studies founded in 1988 is a distinguished research and advanced study center destined

Sport

Main article: Sport in San Marino

San Marino, along with Italy, enjoys football (soccer) as its most popular sport. Football San Marino, along with Italy, enjoys Football (soccer as its most popular sport Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered

The San Marino Championship, founded under the auspices of the FSGC (San Marino Football Federation), is the premier footballing competition in San Marino. Rules Until 1996, the league had two levels Serie A1 and Serie A2, and a relegation/promotion system The San Marino Football Federation (FSGC ( Italian: Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio) is the governing body of football in San Marino. The fifteen teams that take part in the competition are split into two groups of eight and seven teams. The top three from each section at the end of the regular season progress into a semi-knockout style Championship Playoff. Prior to 2007, the playoff champion earned a spot in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Cup. The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA. In 2007, UEFA granted San Marino a spot in the 1st Qualifying Round of the Champions League. The Union of European Football Associations (Union des associations européennes de football is the administrative and controlling body for European football. See also List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League winners The UEFA Champions League, which evolved from the European Champion Clubs' Cup is a seasonal club 2007 league champions S.S. Murata was the first team to represent San Marino in the Champions League when they participated in the 2007-08 competition, losing to Finnish team Tampere United. SS Murata is a Sanmarinese football club based in San Marino. Tampere United is a Finnish football club playing Veikkausliiga, the premier football league in Finland. San Marino also has a representative in the Italian system, with San Marino Calcio playing in the fourth tier of Italian football, Serie C2/B. San Marino Calcio is a Sanmarinese football club based in Serravalle. San Marino play their home matches in the Sanmarinese at the Stadio Olimpico of Serravalle. Stadio Olimpico is a multi-use Stadium in Serravalle, San Marino. Serravalle is a castello located in the small European republic of San Marino.

The San Marino national team played its first unofficial international match in 1986, in which it suffered a 0-1 defeat to the Canadian Olympic team. "San Marino football team" redirects here For the club that competes in Italy's Serie C2, see San Marino Calcio. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Its first competitive outing was on November 14, 1990, a 0-4 loss against Switzerland in the European Championship qualifier. Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The Swiss national football team (also known as the Schweizer Nati in German La Nati in French is the national football team of Switzerland The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA (the Union of European These defeats set the tone for most of the following outings of the team, who are regarded as whipping boys in the qualifying sections of the European Championship and the World Cup. The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football

2005 San Marino Grand Prix held in Imola, Italy

They had a brief moment of glory when they faced England in a World Cup qualifier on November 17, 1993 and took the lead through Davide Gualtieri after just 8. Imola ( Iômla in the local dialect is a town Comune in the Province of Bologna, located on the Santerno river in the Emilia-Romagna The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Davide Gualtieri (born in San Marino, 27 april 1971) is a former San Marino international football player 3 seconds - still the fastest goal in World Cup competition [1]. Despite this goal, only San Marino's third at international level, the microstate went on to lose 7-1.

Until recently, San Marino's international record was one of almost total failure, with famous draws against Turkey and Latvia being the only partial successes in an international career that contains over 70 defeats. The Turkish national football team is the national football team of the Republic of Turkey and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation. The Latvian national football team ( Izlase in Latvian) is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia However, on the 29 April 2004, San Marino recorded their first ever win, with a 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein in an international friendly. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Andy Selva scored the only goal in a close game that finally gave this tiny republic a footballing victory. Andy Selva (born May 25, 1976 in Rome, Italy) is a professional Sanmarinese footballer currently playing for

On September 6, 2006, San Marino suffered their biggest ever defeat, losing 13-0 to world giants Germany in the Stadio Olimpico. The German national football team (Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft From 1950 to 1990 the team was also informally called West Germany in English as since It was also the largest goal margin defeat in European Championship Qualifying history. In the same competition on February 7th 2007, they came within 8 seconds of the best result in their history. They were level at 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland after 94 minutes when Stephen Ireland scored within 8 seconds of the final whistle. The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in international football. Stephen James Ireland (born August 22 1986 in Cobh, County Cork) is an Irish footballer playing in England for The goal scored by San Marino was their European Qualifying first goal since losing 4-1 to Austria in 1998. The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the Country of Austria in international competition and is controlled

As of May 2008, San Marino is 200th in the FIFA world rankings - jointly last with seven other teams. History FIFA World Ranking Leaders In December 1992 FIFA first published

One of the Formula One races, the San Marino Grand Prix, is named after the state, although it does not actually take place there. The San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One championship race which was run at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the town of Imola, near the It takes place at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the Italian town of Imola, about 100 km northwest of San Marino, along the Via Emilia. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory Imola ( Iômla in the local dialect is a town Comune in the Province of Bologna, located on the Santerno river in the Emilia-Romagna Via Aemilia (It Via Emilia) was a trunk Roman road in the north Italian plain running from Ariminum ( Rimini) on the Adriatic coast to The race was etched in infamy after two fatal accidents occurred at the 1994 Grand Prix, when Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed. The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on May 1 1994 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. Ayrton Senna da Silva ( pronounced, March 21, 1960 &ndash May 1, 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver and triple Roland Ratzenberger ( July 4, 1960 &ndash April 30, 1994) was an Austrian Racing driver who died during qualifying for the To kill, killing or to have killed means to cause the Death of a Living Organism.

The race was removed from the calendar for 2007. Pre-season testing Pre-season testing began in November 2006 at the Circuit de Catalunya, with ten of the eleven teams participating in the test sessions

San Marino has a rather successful professional baseball team, T & A San Marino, which play in the top division of Italian professional baseball, the Serie A1. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each T & A San Marino is a professional baseball team based in the city of San Marino, in the Republic of San Marino. Serie A1 is the highest level of professional Baseball in Italy and is overseen by FIBS. It has participated in the European Cup tournament for the top European professional baseball teams several times, hosting the event in 1996, 2000 and 2004, and scheduled to host in 2007. The European Cup is a baseball competition held between the top teams of the professional baseball leagues of Europe It won the championship in 2006. 2006 Major League Baseball season|2006 Nippon Professional Baseball season Headline Event of the Year The 2006 World Baseball Classic is a surprise success

Manuel Poggiali is one of San Marino's most winning sportsmen. Manuel Poggiali (born February 14, 1983) is a former Grand Prix Motorcycle Road racing World Champion from San He won 2 motorcycle World Championships, in 2001 with 125cc bikes and in 2003 with 250cc bikes. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

The long climb up to the top of San Marino has become a mecca for thousands of recreational road cyclists who train in nearby Misano every spring and autumn.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of San Marino

The cuisine of San Marino is strongly similar to Italian, especially that of the adjoining Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions, but it has a number of its own unique dishes and products. As San Marino is a microstate completely landlocked by Italy the cuisine of San Marino is strongly similar to that of Italian cuisine, especially Italian cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political changes with its roots traced back to 4th century BC Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. The capital is Bologna. The Marche (plural originally from le marche de Ancona, referring to the March of Ancona) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. Its best known is probably the Torta Tre Monti ("Cake of the Three Mountains/Towers"), a chocolate layer cake depicting The Three Towers of San Marino. The Three Towers of San Marino are a group of towers located in the small European country of San Marino. The country also has a small wine industry. Sammarinese wine is Wine from San Marino, which is home to a small but profitable wine industry

Miscellaneous topics

Basilica of Saint Marino (left) and church of Saint Peter (right) in San Marino City.

• Communications in San Marino
• Foreign relations of San Marino
• San Marino Grand Prix

Related: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the circuit that hosts the San Marino Grand Prix

• Associazione Guide Esploratori Cattolici Sammarinesi
• Most Serene Republic

Music

San Marino entered the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, in 2008, with the band Miodio singing Complice. Telephones - main lines in use 20600 (2002 Telephones - mobile cellular 16800 (2002 Telephone system domestic automatic telephone San Marino is an active member of the international community The San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One championship race which was run at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the town of Imola, near the The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory The Associazione Guide Esploratori Cattolici Sammarinesi (AGECS Sanmarinese Catholic Guide and Scout Association) is the national Scouting and Guiding San Marino has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest once debuting at the 2008 contest. Mi Odio is a band that consists of three Italian and two San Marinese members "Complice" ( English: "Accomplice" is a song by pop group Miodio from San Marino. The group failed to make it to the Final from the first semi-final. San Marino gave its first ever highest (12) points to Greece. Greece has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1974 with the exception of 1975 1982 1984 1986 1999 and 2000 They were also one of only two countries - along with Ireland - to vote for the United Kingdom. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The BBC subsequently published a magazine article on its website about San Marino, entitled "Britain's New Best Friend?" [2].

References

External links

• San Marino travel guide from Wikitravel
• CIA World Factbook: San Marino
• San Marino at the Open Directory Project
• Meteo San Marino - National Center Of Meteorology and Climatology of San Marino - Local Forecast and Webcams of San Marino
• Musei di Stato della Repubblica di San Marino
• (Italian) Secretary of State for External Relations and Politics
• History of San Marino: Primary Documents
• Visit San Marino - Official San Marino Tourism Site Contrada Omagnano
• (Italian) General information of San Marino: Politics, Institutions and very other
• San Marino: excerpt from a 1769 Guidebook
• Renata Tebaldi International Voice Competition
• San Marino Info