Geography
San Marino has an irregular rectangular form with a maximum length of 8 miles (13 km), northeast to southwest. It is crossed by the Marano and Ausa (Aussa) streams, which flow into the Adriatic Sea, and by the stream of San Marino, which falls into the Marecchia River. The landscape is dominated by the huge, central limestone mass of
Mount Titano
(2,424 feet [739 metres]); hills spread out from it on the southwest, whereas the northeastern part gently slopes down toward the Romagna plain and the Adriatic coast. The
silhouette
of Mount Titano, with its three summits crowned by ancient triple fortifications, may be seen from many miles away. In 2008 Mount Titano and the historic centre of San Marino were designated a
UNESCO
World Heritage site
.
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The
climate
is mild and temperate, with maximum temperatures in the high 70s F (about 26 °C) in summer and the high teens F (about ?7 °C) in winter. Annual rainfall ranges between about 22 inches (560 mm) and 32 inches (800 mm). Vegetation is typical of the Mediterranean zone, with variations due to elevation, and includes olive, pine, oak, ash, poplar, fir, and elm, as well as many kinds of grasses and flowers. Besides domestic and farmyard animals, moles,
hedgehogs
,
foxes
,
badgers
,
martens
,
weasels
, and hares are found.
Indigenous
birds and birds of passage are plentiful.
Although traces of human presence from both prehistoric and Roman times exist in the territory, Mount Titano and its slopes are known to have been populated, with certainty, only after the arrival of St. Marinus and his followers. San Marino citizens, or Sammarinesi, make up more than four-fifths of the
country’s
population, with Italians composing most of the remainder. Thousands of Sammarinesi reside abroad, principally in Italy, the
United States
,
France
, and
Argentina
. Nearly nine-tenths of San Marino’s citizens are
Roman Catholics
, though there is no official religion. The official language is Italian. A widely spoken
dialect
has been defined as
Celto-Gallic, akin to the
Piedmont
and
Lombardy
dialects
as well as to that of Romagna.
Because centuries-long quarrying has exhausted Mount Titano’s stone and ended the craft that depended upon it, the territory is now without mineral resources. All electrical power is transferred via electrical grid from Italy, San Marino’s main trading partner. The country’s principal resources are industry,
tourism
, commerce, agriculture, and crafts. Manufactures include
electronics
, paint, cosmetics, ceramics, jewelry, and clothing. Ceramic and wrought-iron articles, as well as modern and reproduction furniture, are among San Marino’s traditional craft products. Fine printing, particularly of
postage stamps
, is a consistent source of revenues. Banking is a
vital
industry. In 2002 San Marino replaced the Italian
lira
with the
euro
as its national currency.
Tourism is the sector of greatest expansion, and it makes a major contribution to the inhabitants’ income. Alongside traditional excursion tourism, there is convention-type tourism, based on modern hotel facilities, as well as residential tourism.
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Agriculture, although no longer the principal economic resource in San Marino, remains vital. Wheat, grapes, and barley are the chief crops; dairying and livestock also are important. About three-fourths of the land is given to permanent cultivation.
The capital,
San Marino
city, is set high on the western side of Mount Titano, beneath the fortress crowning one of its summits, and is encircled by triple walls.
Borgo Maggiore
, farther down the slope, was for centuries San Marino’s commercial centre, and
Serravalle
, beneath its castle of the
Malatesta family
, is agricultural and industrial. San Marino is overwhelmingly urban in character, and those three cities are home to nearly two-thirds of San Marino’s population. Most of San Marino’s landscape is agricultural in character, but industrial concerns have intruded on the centuries-old forms of agricultural life.
The San Marino constitution, originating from the Statutes of 1600, provides for a parliamentary form of government. The Great and General Council (Parliament) has 60 members, elected every five years by all adult citizens. It has legislative and administrative powers and every six months nominates the two
captains regent (
capitani reggenti
), who hold office for that period and may not be elected again until three years have elapsed. The Great and General Council is headed by the captains regent, who are heads of state and of the administration. The Congress of State, a council of ministers, is composed of 10 members, elected by the Great and General Council from among its members, and
constitutes
the central organ of executive power. Each member has charge of a ministerial department.
Social programs for the citizens of San Marino are extensive. The state attempts to keep
unemployment
in check by seeking to provide employment for those who cannot find work with private concerns. All citizens (who make
social security
contributions) receive free,
comprehensive
, high-quality medical care and assistance in sickness, accident, and
old age
, as well as family allowances. The state aids home ownership through its buildings schemes. Education is free and compulsory up to age 16. The University of
San Marino
was founded in 1985. A public security force of about 50 persons provides national defense.
A network of roads connects San Marino with the surrounding regions of Italy. Motorcoach services connect San Marino city with
Rimini
, Italy, and, in summer, directly with the Adriatic coast. The main airport serving San Marino is the
Federico Fellini
International Airport in Rimini. There are no railroads, but the capital is reached from Borgo Maggiore by means of a cable railway.