This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit one of Europe’s many microstates, San Marino. This visit got me thinking about the concept of microstates: why they exist and what purpose they serve. A microstate is a sovereign state with a small land area, a small population, or both. In recent years, the concept of a microstate as a unique political entity has become more popular, and scholars tend to focus on defining these states by their unique political customs that make them distinct from the much larger states that surround them.
Europe is home to a number of microstates, including four of the ten smallest states in the world. European microstates include, in ascending order of land area: Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Malta, and Andorra. Other prominent examples of microstates include a number of island nations in both the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
During my time in Italy, I have had the chance to visit two microstates: Vatican City and San Marino. Vatican City is much more well known as it is home to the Pope of the Catholic Church and many of his advisors. Whether or not Vatican City truly is a sovereign state is much disputed amongst political scholars who claim that it does not have the political structure to be a state itself. However, a common theme of microstates is that they are granted their autonomy due to historical ties or an autonomous history.
Italy’s other microstate, San Marino, is also a product of an autonomous history. It claims to be the oldest republic in the world, claiming 301 AD as the starting date of the current republic. It has remained independent ever since. When Italy unified as a republic itself in the 19th century, San Marino refused to be unified with it and in fact served as a refuge for people who did not wish to be a part of a unified Italy. San Marino remained neutral through both World Wars. It still relies heavily on Italy, in which it is an enclave. Many people work in Italy and live in San Marino and vice versa. Tourism from Italy, especially since the historic city center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, has drastically increased. Italy is a big source of revenue and also provides defense to the country.
San Marino has been one of the most stunning places I have ever visited. The sunset over the Adriatic Sea is unlike any sunset I’ve ever witnessed. It turns the sky a fiery red and orange. The scenery is straight out of an oil painting, with rolling hills as far as the eye can see. The real gem of San Marino is San Marino City, perched high atop Mount Titano. Here you will find the three towers of San Marino, original and restored tower fortresses from the middle ages that protected the city from invasion. The first and second towers are major tourist attractions and can be climbed for a small fee of 6.50 euros. The towers are encircled by green forests and rockscapes and look like castles depicted in fairy tales.
Another must see are the medieval crossbow reenactments that happen often in the city center. Here, volunteer crossbowman dress up in medieval outfits and try to outdo each other’s accuracy. If you are looking for an easy souvenir, the Tourist Information Office offers unofficial Tourist Visas and passport stamps for 5 euros. The city is full of hills and steps, so come prepared to climb and wear good shoes! San Marino is an hour bus ride from the coastal beach city of Rimini, Italy. Rimini can be reached via train from Florence in three to four hours dependant upon type of train travel chosen.
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