What is the oldest country in the world? Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a variety of responses. Some might say it’s a country like China or Greece, where you can visit ancient cities that date all the way back to the second, third, even fifth millennium BCE. But borders and cultures have always shifted—and will continue to to shift—throughout history, and as a result, most of our present-day nations are actually quite young.
For example: Today’s Russia was born out of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991; its current constitution is only 20 years old. Modern Iran—officially the Islamic Republic of Iran—is turning just 45 next year; it wasn’t a republic until 1979, after the Iranian Revolution. And sure, Rome itself was founded in 753 BCE, but the Republic of Italy, as we know it today, is only about 60 years old. It was founded in 1946 after a nationwide referendum, in what was once the Kingdom of Italy, replaced the monarchy with a republic. The People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949; modern Greece—officially the Third Hellenic Republic—began in 1974, after the abolishment of the monarchy.
Empires rise and fall, but San Marino, a small enclave of a country in the middle of Italy, has withstood the tests of time since the year 301 thanks to its diminutive size and political savvy. Never heard of it? Here’s a crash course on the tiny “most serene” republic of San Marino and why it’s worth a stop on your next adventure in the Italian peninsula.
Where is San Marino?
San Marino is a self-governing country within Central Italy, sandwiched between the Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche. It has a land area of roughly 24 square miles—bigger than both the Vatican and Monaco (the world’s two smallest countries in terms of area, at under one square mile), but smaller than Liechtenstein and Washington, DC. The country’s western border is just a 20-minute drive away from the coastal Italian town of Rimini, off the Adriatic Sea. You can also take a day trip to San Marino from Bologna, which is just under two hours away by road.
In the middle of San Marino, the imposing Monte Titano towers over the landscape with three medieval towers that crown its three tallest peaks: the Cesta, on the mountain’s highest point; the Montale, on the smallest; and the Guaita, the oldest fortress of the three and perhaps its most famous and well-photographed. On the western slopes of Monte Titano stands the walled City of San Marino, the nation’s capital. The city’s historic center, as well as Monte Titano itself, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
The fortress of Guaita, on Monte Titano in San Marino
What is the history of San Marino?
If you know a bit of Italian, you can guess this country’s etymological origin: San Marino was named after, naturally, Saint Marinus. Originally a stonemason from the island of Rab (found in what is now modern Croatia), he and fellow Christians escaped religious persecution at the hands of the Roman Empire and settled on Monte Titano, where he built a church, out of which grew the community that would become San Marino. The nation’s official founding date is September 3, 301 CE.
