City of San Marino

This article is about the capital of the country. For other places named San Marino, see San Marino (disambiguation).

City of San Marino Città di San Marino
—  castello  —
A collage of the City of San Marino.
Flag Coat of arms
San Marino's location in San Marino
City of San Marino San Marino's location in San Marino
Coordinates: 43°56′4.56″N 12°26′50.28″E / 43.9346°N 12.4473°E / 43.9346; 12.4473
Country	San Marino
Foundation	September 3, 301 (traditional date)
Government
– Capitano	Alessandro Barulli (since 2003)
Area
– Total	7.09 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Elevation	749 m (2,457 ft)
Population (2003)
– Total	4,493
– Density	633.71/km2 (1,641.3/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	RSM-47890

San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Monte Titano and three fortresses on top of it can be seen from many kilometers away
Country	San Marino
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii
Reference	1245
Region **	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2008 (32nd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

The City of San Marino, also known simply as San Marino, is the capital city of the Republic of San Marino on the Italian peninsula, near the Adriatic Sea. The city has a population of 4,493. It is on the western slopes of San Marino's highest point, Monte Titano.

Geography

Although the capital, most of the businesses are in Borgo Maggiore. It is the third largest city in the country, after Dogana and Borgo Maggiore. It borders the San Marino municipalities Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Fiorentino, and Chiesanuova and the Italian municipality San Leo.

Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino is centered here.

History

Due to its being the capital and previously the only city in San Marino, the history of this city is almost the same as the History of San Marino. For more information on that topic, see that article.

The city was founded by Saint Marinus and several Christian refugees in the year 301. From then on the city became a center of Christian refugees who fled from Roman persecution. As a result, the city become the oldest republic in Europe, for the republic's territory at that time only included the single city of San Marino.

The urban heart of the city was protected by three towers: the first, Guaita, constructed in the 11th century, was famous for being impenetrable, which to a great extent discouraged attacks on the city.

Due to the Crusades, it was felt necessary to construct a second tower, Cesta (13th century). But the Sanmarinense defensive system was not completed until the construction of a third tower, the Montale (14th century) - the smallest of all and constructed on the last of the summits of Monte Titano.

With the population of the city increasing, the territory of the country was extended by a few square kilometers. Since the Sanmarinese policy was not to invade or to use war to obtain new territories, it was by means of purchases and treaties that San Marino obtained the other nine castelli which make up San Marino.

Parishes

The City of San Marino has the following 7 parishes or wards (curazie)^[1]:

• Cà Berlone, Canepa, Casole, Castellaro, Montalbo, Murata, Santa Mustiola

Economy

Main article: Economy of San Marino

The economy of the city of San Marino has always been closely bound to that of the country. Until recently, the main economic activities of the locality were stone extraction and carving. Today, there is a more varied economy, including tourism, commerce, sale of postage stamps, and a small agricultural industry, although the last is in decay.

Landmarks

Main article: Tourism in San Marino

The city is visited by more than three million people per year, and has developed progressively as a tourist center. Of the tourists, 85% are Italian. There are also more than a thousand retail outlets, where one can find a great variety of products.

Main sights

• Basilica di San Marino
• Palazzo dei Capitani
• Palazzo Pubblico
• The Three Towers of San Marino
• Piazza del Titano
• Piazza Garibaldi
• Monastery of Santa Clara
• Grand Hotel San Marino

Transport

Main article: Transport in San Marino

The town is known for its long, winding cobblestoned streets, as its altitude and steep approach put it beyond the reach of the San Marino Superhighway. San Marino is also notable in that cars are prohibited in much of the town center.

Before the Second World War, a railway was built from San Marino to Rimini under the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini. Its tunnels, and the railway station 'Piazzale Lo Stradone', still exist. Proposals for the reopening of this railway have been presented to the government on several occasions, but thus far without action.

There is a regular bus service to Rimini, and a 1.5 km cable car line connects the capital with Borgo Maggiore.

Sports

The city of San Marino has two soccer teams: the S.S. Murata and the S.P. Tre Penne. The city had the Olympic Flame pass through San Marino during the run-up to the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Photogallery

• 

  Palazzo Pubblico,
  the Town Hall

• 

  Guaita tower

• 

  Cesta tower

• 

  Montale tower

International relations

Map of the municipality of San Marino

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Twin towns—Sister cities

City of San Marino is twinned with:

• San Leo, Italy
• Rab, Croatia
• Rønne, Denmark

References

1. ^ (Italian) Article with the list of curazie on the official Sanmarinese electoral website

External links

Media related to San Marino (city) at Wikimedia Commons

• (Italian) San Marino's page on giuntedicastello.sm

Coordinates: 43°56′4.56″N 12°26′50.28″E / 43.9346°N 12.4473°E / 43.9346; 12.4473