San Marino - The Capital of San Marino
- Population
- 4,061
- Language
- Italian
- Continent
- Europe
- Since
- 1600
- Eco Ranking
- -
Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.
About San Marino
San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic, tracing its founding to 3 September 301 CE, when a Christian stonemason named Marinus, later canonised as Saint Marinus, established a community on Monte Titano to escape Roman persecution. While the historical record is fragmentary, San Marino has functioned as an independent entity since at least the medieval period, surviving the consolidation of the Italian peninsula under the Papal States and later under Napoleon and the Risorgimento. San Marino has been governed by two co-equal heads of state called Captains Regent since 1243, a system of dual leadership designed to prevent the concentration of power. The Captains Regent are elected by the Grand and General Council (parliament) every six months and cannot be re-elected for three years after their term. San Marino is entirely surrounded by Italy and covers an area of just 61 square kilometres. Despite repeated absorption attempts throughout its history, it has maintained its sovereignty.
About San Marino
San Marino is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral Grand and General Council of 60 members. It is entirely surrounded by Italy and uses the euro as its currency under a monetary agreement with the EU, though it is not an EU member. San Marino maintains its own legal system and military (the Corps of the Gendarmerie and a ceremonial Guard of the Rock) and has diplomatic relations with over 100 countries.
View San Marino on the map
Flight time from San Marino to other capitals
| City | Distance (km) | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | 200 | 0h 14m |
| Paris | 900 | 1h 4m |
| London | 1300 | 1h 32m |
| Abu Dhabi | 4400 | 5h 11m |
| Washington, D.C. | 7100 | 8h 21m |
| Cape Town | 8700 | 10h 14m |
| Tokyo | 9700 | 11h 25m |
| Singapore | 10000 | 11h 46m |
| Buenos Aires | 11300 | 13h 18m |
| Canberra | 16200 | 19h 4m |
Capitals with similar population to San Marino
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Marino really the world's oldest republic?
San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic, with a founding tradition dating to 301 CE. While the historical evidence for the earliest period is largely legendary, San Marino has demonstrably functioned as an independent communal republic since at least the 12th century. Its constitution of 1600 is one of the world's oldest written governing documents still in effect.
How does San Marino's government work?
San Marino has two co-equal heads of state, the Captains Regent, who are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council. The system dates to 1243 and was designed to prevent any single person from accumulating too much power. The Captains Regent must be from different political parties or factions, providing a built-in check on authority.
Is San Marino part of Italy?
No. San Marino is an independent sovereign state, though it is completely surrounded by Italian territory. It has maintained its independence throughout Italian unification in the 19th century and was never absorbed into Italy. San Marino has a Treaty of Friendship with Italy, uses the euro, and cooperates closely with Italy on customs and other matters, but it governs itself independently.
When did San Marino become the capital?
The City of San Marino, the historic hilltop settlement on Monte Titano, has served as the seat of government of San Marino for centuries, with formal governmental structures in place from at least the medieval period. The 1600 Statutes of San Marino, often regarded as its constitution, codified its governance, including the role of the Grand and General Council meeting in the capital.
Does San Marino have its own currency?
San Marino uses the euro as its official currency under a monetary agreement with the European Union, even though it is not an EU member. Before the euro, it used the Sammarinese lira, which was pegged to and interchangeable with the Italian lira. San Marino issues its own euro coins, which are legal tender throughout the eurozone and are sought by collectors due to their limited mintage.
