The City of San Marino (), also known simply as San Marino and locally as Città, is the

capital city A capital city, or just capital, is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state (polity), state, province, department (administrative division), department, or other administrative division, subnational division, usually as its ...

of the Republic of San Marino and one of its nine . It has a population of 4,061. It is on the western slopes of San Marino's highest point, Monte Titano. It is also the fifth-least-populated national capital in the world.

Geography

The City of San Marino borders the of Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Fiorentino, and Chiesanuova and the Italian municipality of San Leo. The City of San Marino contains seven : Cà Berlone, Canepa, Casole, Castellaro, Montalbo, Murata, and Santa Mustiola. The International Academy of Sciences San Marino was centered here.

History

The city is claimed to be founded by Saint Marinus and several Christian refugees fleeing from Roman persecution in the year 301. The urban heart of the city was protected by three towers: the first, Guaita, built in the 11th century, held a reputation for being impenetrable which to a great extent discouraged attacks. Tensions with bordering powers urged the necessity to build a second tower, Cesta (13th century). The 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 Sammarinese 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 eight ''castelli'' which make up the country.

Politics

The city serves as the headquarters of the Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party, a conservative party that currently serves as one of the main governing parties.

Economy

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 latter is in decline.

Landmarks

The city is visited by more than three million people per year, and has developed progressively as a tourist centre. 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 * Teatro Titano * The Three Towers of San Marino * Piazza del Titano * Piazza Garibaldi * Monastery of Santa Clara * Grand Hotel San Marino

Transport

The city is known for its long, winding cobblestoned streets, as its altitude and steep approach put it beyond the reach of the San Marino Highway. San Marino is also notable in that cars are prohibited in much of the city center. A series of lifts connects the upper part of city with the lower. City of San Marino is the top terminus of the Funivia di San Marino, an aerial cablecar system that connects the city to Borgo Maggiore. Running every fifteen minutes, the two-minute ride is renowned for its panoramic views over San Marino, the Province of Rimini, and the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

. The City of San Marino terminus is located at the turn of Contrada Omagnano with Contrada del Pianello, at the historic city centre's northern end, next to the and less than from the Basilica of San Marino and the Piazza della Libertà. The City of San Marino is the terminus of seven of San Marino's eight bus lines, which run to other settlements in the country. Additionally, the central bus stop in Piazzale Marino Calcigni is the terminus of a regular coach connection to Rimini, operated by coach companies Bonelli and Benedettini. Between 1932 and 1944, a electrified narrow gauge railway operated between Rimini and the City of San Marino. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the line was bombed and closed, after which its tunnels sheltered refugees during the Battles of Rimini and

San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. Located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, it is the larger of two European microstates, microsta ...

. After the war, the railway was abandoned in favour of the San Marino Highway. In 2012, an section was reopened as a

heritage railway A heritage railway or heritage railroad (U.S. usage) is a railway operated as living history to re-create or preserve railway scenes of the past. Heritage railways are often old railway lines preserved in a state depicting a period (or periods) ...

in the City of San Marino, running between Piazzale della Stazione and near Via Napoleone. The restored section comprises the original railway's final horseshoe turn through the Montale tunnel.

Sport

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

International relations

City of San Marino is twinned with: * Rab, Croatia (1968) * San Leo, Italy (1995) * Nanjing, China (2021)

Gallery

Palazzo Pubblico - esterno.jpg, '' Palazzo Pubblico'',
the City Hall Fortress of Guaita - First Tower (San Marino).jpg, Guaita tower Second Tower in San Marino and Paragliding.jpg, Cesta tower Montale Tower.jpg, Montale tower Hastalapolastra.jpg, Via Paul III Statua della Libertà.jpg, Statue of Liberty in the square of the City Hall The Walls of the Liberty DLO.jpg, Panoramic view from Murata

References

External links

San Marino's page on giuntedicastello.sm
{{DEFAULTSORT:San Marino Capitals in Europe World Heritage Sites in San Marino 301 establishments Populated places established in the 4th century