City of San Marino

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

San Marino San Marino
castello
Flag Coat of arms
San Marino's location in San Marino
Foundation	September 3, 301 (traditional date)
Government
• Capitano	Alessandro Barulli (since 2003)
Area
• Total	7.09 km2 (2.74 sq mi)
Elevation	749 m (2,457 ft)
Population  (2003)
• Total	4,493
• Density	633.71/km2 (1,641.3/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	CEST
Postal code	RSM-47890

The City of 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 being the capital and, for a time, 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 Saint Marinus and several Christian refugees in the year 301. From then on the city became a center of Christian refugees who fled from the Roman persecutions, which caused that the city become the oldest republic of Europe, for the Sanmarinense territory at that time corresponded to 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, had intraspasable fame, which to a great extent reduced the attacks to the city.

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

With the population of the city increasing, the territory of the country was extended by a few kilometers. Since the Sanmarinese policy is not to invade or use war for the obtaining of new territories, it is by means of purchases and of treaties that San Marino manage to obtain the other nine castello that is part of San Marino.

Hamlets

The City of San Marino has got 8 hamlets (curazie):

• 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 bound to the national industry. Until recently, the main economic activities of the locality were the stone extraction and carving. Today, there is more of an economy thanks to the tourism, commerce, postal seal sale, in addition to a small agricultural industry, although the latter is in decay.

Palazzo Pubblico, the Town Hall.

Guaita tower.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in San Marino

The city, visited by more than three million people in a year, has risen progressively as a great tourist center. Of the tourists, 85% are Italian. In addition there are more than a thousand stores, where it is possible to find great variety of products.

Main sights

• 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, windy cobblestoned streets, as its altitude and steep approach put it beyond the reach of the San Marino Superhighway. San Marino is also notable in the sense that cars are prohibited in much of the town center.

Before the Second World War a railway was built from here to Rimini under the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini. Its tunnels, and the railway station 'Piazzale Lo Stradone', still exist. Proposals for the re-opening 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 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 also had the Olympic Flame pass through here during the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Sister cities

• San Leo, Italy

External links

Media related to San Marino (city) at Wikimedia Commons Template:Geolinks-cityscale