Little San Marino is a place with an amazing and long history. Founded in the fourth century, today it is not only the smallest country in Europe, but also the oldest republic in the world. Surrounded by Italian territory, the territory recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site retains its independence to this day.
In the interior of Italy, between the two regions of Emilia-Romagna and the Marche, high on a mountain lies an amazing and extremely historic place. Just around 33,000 people live here in an area of 61 square kilometers. We're talking about the mini-state of San Marino, which can claim two impressive superlatives. Because it is not only the smallest country in Europe, but, having been founded in the fourth century, it is also the oldest republic in the world that still exists today. And a look at its history reveals both astonishing and extremely bizarre things.
Übersicht
- Contested from the start
- No interest in lake access
- Pioneer in Europe
Contested from the start
Es ist das Jahr 301 nach Christus, als sich die ersten Menschen auf dem heutigen Gebiet von San Marino ansiedeln. Dabei handelt es sich laut der offiziellen Website des Staates um den Heiligen Marinus und seine Gefolgsleute. Auf der Flucht vor ihren Verfolgern entscheiden sie sich für den 739 Meter hohen, unzugänglichen Berg Titano als ihre neue Heimat. Natürlich können sie nicht ahnen, dass sie damit die heute älteste Republik der Welt gründen, die nun schon seit mehr als 17 Jahrhunderten existiert. Zum ersten Mal offiziell erwähnt wird das kleinste Land Europas dann im Jahr 855 in der Schrift Liber Pontificalis (Das Buch der Päpste). Und der schroffe Felsen, auf dem es sich befindet, war von Anfang an umkämpft.
Potentates tried several times to conquer San Marino. For example, the country, which had already reached its current size in 1463, was invaded in 1503 by the powerful Borgia family, who ruled with Alexander VI. even provided a pope. In 1749, San Marino was occupied by a “foreign” power for a few months. The spiritual conqueror Giulio Alberoni Giulio Cardinal was only able to do so through a word of power from Pope Clement XII. be moved to retreat. However, for a long time these two events were the only ones in the history of the mini-country in which enemies crossed its borders.
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Die 7 kleinsten Länder Europas
Nur diese 5 Länder weltweit haben keinen eigenen Flughafen
No interest in lake access
Another ruler even wanted to bestow a very special honor on San Marino in 1796. So Emperor Napoleon himself offered the state he admired to expand its territory to include sea access. And as incredible as it sounds, local leaders actually rejected this generous offer. In 1849, the small country on the big rock made a name for itself again when the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi and his comrades-in-arms were granted political asylum. The independence of the oldest republic in the world was guaranteed by Italy in a series of treaties from 1862 onwards.
Bereits 1869 machte San Marino Schlagzeilen, als es als erstes europäisches Land und als erst drittes auf der ganzen Welt offiziell die Todesstrafe abschaffte. Anders als Italien blieb man während des Zweiten Weltkrieges neutral, wurde aber 1944 doch zum Ziel eines britischen Bombenangriffs. Im selben Jahr war das Mini-Land dann auch zuerst von den Nazis und später den Alliierten kurzfristig besetzt. Bereits 1981 wählte man hier mit Maria Lea Pedini das erste weibliche Staatsoberhaupt. 1992 trat San Marino den Vereinten Nationen bei, seit 2002 gilt der Euro hier als offizielles Zahlungsmittel. 2008 erkannte die UNESCO San Marino als Welterbe an.
Pioneer in Europe
Alle fünf Jahre wird hier laut der Verfassung aus dem Jahr 1600 ein neues Parlament mit 60 Mitgliedern gewählt. Die zwei führenden Staatsoberhäupter, die sogenannten capitani reggenti, ernennt dieses alle sechs Monate neu. Die meisten Einwohner leben in den drei Städten San Marino (Hauptstadt), Borgo Maggiore und Serravalle. Heute ist hier neben der Landwirtschaft vor allem und immer mehr der Tourismus die Haupteinnahmequelle vieler Einheimischer. Nebenbei machte sich das kleinste Land Europas in der jüngsten Vergangenheit auch einen Namen als Banken- und Steuerparadies.
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Those interested can find out more about San Marino's extensive tourist offerings on the official website. In addition to city trips, this also includes excursions on foot or by bike into the nature of this small country. The site also advertises the shows and festivals that regularly take place here, as well as the shopping opportunities. In any case, the advertising slogan makes you curious to discover the oldest republic and promises “a world that is unique in the world.”
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