San Marino

San Marino is a small, landlocked microstate located in southern Europe. It is surrounded entirely by Italy and is one of the world’s oldest republics, founded in AD 301 by Saint Marinus, a Christian stonemason who fled the island of Rab in modern-day Croatia to escape religious persecution.

San Marino covers an area of just over 61 square kilometers and has a population of around 34,000 people. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, both in terms of land area and population. The capital and largest city is also called San Marino.

The economy of San Marino is primarily based on tourism, as well as the production of ceramics, textiles, and furniture. The country is known for its picturesque mountain landscapes and medieval architecture, including the historic city of San Marino, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Marino is also known for its political system, which is based on a parliamentary representative democracy. The country has two main political parties and a directly elected head of state known as the Captain Regent, who serves a six-month term alongside a co-regent. Despite its small size, San Marino has a strong sense of national identity and is proud of its long history and unique political system.