Seborga
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| Seborga | |||
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| — Comune — | |||
| Comune di Seborga | |||
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  Seborga
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| Coordinates: 43°50′N 7°42′E / 43.833°N 7.7°ECoordinates: 43°50′N 7°42′E / 43.833°N 7.7°E | |||
| Country | Italy | ||
| Region | Liguria | ||
| Province | Imperia (IM) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 4.91 km2 (1.9 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 500 m (1,640 ft) | ||
| Population (31 December 2008)[1] | |||
| - Total | 316 | ||
| - Density | 64.4/km2 (166.7/sq mi) | ||
| - Demonym | Seborghini | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 18012 | ||
| Dialing code | 0184 | ||
| Patron saint | San Bernardo | ||
| Saint day | 20 August | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Seborga is a small town in the region of Liguria in northwest Italy, near the French border. Administratively, it is a comune of the Italian province of Imperia, although some locals claim that it is an independent principality. The main economic activities are horticulture and tourism.
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[edit] History
In 954, Seborga's territory was ceded by the counts of Ventimiglia to the monks of Lerino, when the Cistercian monastery was founded. In 1079 its abbots were also made Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, temporally in chief of the principality of Seborga.
On 20 January 1729, however, it was annexed to the Savoy dynasty's Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. Since then it has never been recognized by any state or admitted to an international organisation.
[edit] Economy and culture
Seborga is known in the region for its agricultural activity: in particular, cultivation and collection of olives and floriculture crops. Thanks to Seborga's publicity as a principality, tourism has expanded in recent years. The principality's historic town centre was also restored, ensuring that its charms were protected from commercial overdevelopment.
An important cultural event in Seborga is the annual festival of Saint Bernard, the town's patron saint, held on August 20. Seborga's twin city is L'Escarène, France.
[edit] Transportation
Seborga is situated along Provincial Road 57 in Imperia. The nearest freeway access is at the Bordighera exit on the A10. The nearest railway station is also the one in Bordighera, on the Ventimiglia-Genoa line.
[edit] Principality of Seborga
In the early 1960s, Giorgio Carbone, then head of the local flower-growers co-operative, began promoting the idea that Seborga retained its historic independence as a principality. By 1963 the people of Seborga were sufficiently convinced of these arguments to elect Carbone as their ostensible head of state. He then assumed the title Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga, which he claimed thereafter.[2]
Carbone's status as prince was further supported by locals on 23 April 1995, when, in an informal referendum, Seborgans voted 304 in favour, 4 against, for the principality's constitution, and in favour of independence from Italy.[3] Carbone reigned till his death occurred on 25 November 2009[4]. The prince was known locally as Sua Tremendità ('Your Tremendousness').[5]
The Republic of Italy considers and treats Seborga (unlike San Marino or Vatican City State, enclaved in the peninsula) as an integral part of its own territory. Moreover, there is no tension between the "Principality" of Seborga and the Italian government. Law enforcement, public health, telecommunications, school services and all other public services are provided as in the rest of Italy. Seborgans regularly pay taxes, participate in the Italian administrative life, and vote in local and national (Italian) elections. For instance, in the elections of the Senate in 2001 the voter turnout was 84.21%.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
- ^ "Prince of Seborga fights on for 362 subjects", Italy Magazine, 15 June 2006
- ^ "Noel Gallagher is my choice for monarch", Caitlin Moran, The Times, 30 January 2006
- ^ Obituary: 'His Tremendousness Giorgio Carbone', Daily Telegraph, 27 November 2009.
- ^ "Battle rages for His Tremendousness's throne", Malcolm Moore, Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2006
[edit] External links
Giorgio Carbone, Elected Prince of Seborga, Dies at 73
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