City of San Marino

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City of San Marino
Città di San Marino
Flag of City of San Marino
Flag
Coat of arms of City of San Marino
Coat of arms
San Marino's location in San Marino
San Marino's location in San Marino
Coordinates: 43°56′N 12°26′E / 43.933, 12.433
Foundation September 3, 301 (traditional date)
Government
 - Capitano Alessandro Barulli (since 2003)
Area
 - Total 7.09 km² (2.7 sq mi)
Elevation 749 m (2,457 ft)
Population (2003)
 - Total 4,493
 - Density 633.71/km² (1,641.3/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC)
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.

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.

Contents

[edit] 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 extendeded few kilometers. Since the Sanmarinese policy is not to invade or use war for the obtaining of new territories, is by means of purchases and of treaties that San Marino manage to obtain the other nine castello on which it counts at the present time.

[edit] 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 Publico - the Town Hall
Palazzo Publico - the Town Hall

[edit] 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.

Guaita tower
Guaita tower

[edit] Points of interest

Not only does San Marino City offer a breath-taking view but it also offers some famous sights:

[edit] Transport

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Flag of San Marino Castelli of San Marino Coat of arms of San Marino

Acquaviva | Borgo Maggiore | Chiesanuova | Domagnano | Faetano | Fiorentino | Montegiardino | City of San Marino (capital) | Serravalle