I.

Introduction

San Marino, republic in southern Europe, an enclave in northern Italy, south of the city of Rimini. Officially known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, this tiny state has a total area of only 61 sq km (23 sq mi), making it one of the smallest republics in the world. The capital is also called San Marino.

II.

Land and Population

Situated in the central Apennines, between the Romagna and the Marche regions of Italy, San Marino has a terrain dominated by the three-peaked Mount Titano (739 m/2,424 ft). The country is watered by several streams, including the Ausa, Marano, and San Marino. The climate is mild with an average annual rainfall of 686 mm (27 in).

San Marino has a population of 29,973 (2008 estimate), with a population density of about 491 per sq km (1,273 per sq mi). The people are predominantly Roman Catholic. The official language is Italian, but for the majority the mother tongue is Emiliano-Romagnolo, a Romance language similar to Italian. Most inhabitants are bilingual in Standard Italian. Nine out of ten San Marinese are urbanized. The largest town is Serravalle, in the north, which has almost one third of the population. The capital is San Marino, with a population of 4,601 (2003 estimate), which is located on the slopes of Mount Titano. Another significant population centre is Borgo Maggiore, on the mountain’s lower slope.

A.

Education

Higher education in the republic is provided by the University of San Marino (1985).

III.

Economy

The economy of San Marino was traditionally based on agriculture, forestry, and stone-quarrying. Since 1945 these have declined in importance as tourism has grown. The tourism industry now provides 60 per cent of national revenue. Light industry, such as electronics, is also of growing importance. Manufactured goods include textiles and clothing, wine, cheeses, cement, leather goods, synthetic rubber products, and ceramics.

A.

Currency

The monetary unit of San Marino was formerly the Italian lira, but in line with Italy’s adoption of the new Euro currency in 2002, San Marino followed suit. As at early 2008, 0.68 Euros equalled US$1.

B.

Commerce and Trade

In 1995 annual government revenue and expenditure were balanced at about US$320 million. Wheat, barley, maize, olives, wine, and livestock and dairy products dominate agricultural output. The sale of postage stamps is a significant source of government revenue, but exports of building materials, formerly an important source of export earnings, have ceased with the exhaustion of the quarries on Mount Titano.

C.

Communications

The two most popular daily newspapers in San Marino are La Tribuna Sammarinese and San Marino Oggi. The state-run San Marino RTV runs radio and television broadcasts in the country. There is also a privately run radio station.

IV.

Government

San Marino is governed by the Great and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale), a legislative body of 60 members elected by universal suffrage for a term of five years. Two members of the council, called captains-regent, are elected for six months to preside over the country’s executive body, the 10-member Congress of State.

A.

Political Parties

The biggest parties in San Marino are the Sanmarinese Christian Democratic Party (PDCS; Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese) and the Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD; Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici). In 2006 the PDCS won 21 seats and the PSD 20, leading to a coalition government as is the norm in San Marino.

B.

International Organizations

San Marino is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Council of Europe (CE), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

V.

History

According to tradition, San Marino was founded in ad 301 by a Christian stonecutter, Marinus, who sought refuge on Mount Titano from religious persecution. The commune that developed was recognized as an independent state by Pope Nicholas IV in 1291. Today it is the sole survivor of the many independent city-states which existed in Italy prior to its unification in the 19th century. Its independence is guaranteed by a friendship treaty with Italy, first signed in 1862 and revised in 1939 and 1971. The later revisions provided for the establishment of a customs union and for an annual subvention from Italy to support San Marino’s budget. The governing laws of the republic were promulgated during the Middle Ages.

From 1945 to 1957 the republic was ruled by a left-wing coalition of Communists and Socialists. In 1957 a coalition of the Christian Democratic and Social Democratic parties took control of the government. The coalition survived until 1973 when policy disputes led to a period of short-lived governments.

In 1978 a coalition led by the Communists again came to power. It was re-elected in 1983 but collapsed in 1986 after a financial scandal. In July 1986 a Christian Democrat-Communist coalition was formed. In March 1992 the Christian Democrats changed partners to form a coalition with the Socialists who were returned to power after the May 1993 general election. San Marino became a member of the United Nations in 1992. In 1996 San Marino and Sweden formally ended the state of war which, owing to an oversight in the Peace of Westphalia, had continued between them since the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648. In February 2002, San Marino signed up to an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) agreement regarding taxation, whereby the country agreed to provide greater transparency in its taxation and banking matters with the aim of combating tax evasion.