San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a tiny European country completely surrounded by Italy. Situated in the Apennine Mountains, it is the world's fifth smallest country, covering just over 61 square kilometers and inhabited by around 33,660 people.
May 1915: World War I Neutrality
Despite Italy's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary in May 1915, San Marino remained neutral. This neutrality was viewed with suspicion by Italy, who feared San Marino might harbor Austrian spies. Tensions arose as Italy attempted to station Carabinieri in San Marino and cut telephone lines when their demands were not met.
1921: Opening of Torello Station
San Marino's first railway connection was established in 1921 with the opening of Torello Station on the Rimini–Novafeltria railway, situated within Italian territory.
1922: Founding of the Sammarinese Fascist Party
The Sammarinese Fascist Party (PFS) was founded in 1922, mirroring its Italian counterpart. This followed post-war economic struggles in San Marino, with high unemployment and inflation fueling tensions between social classes.
1923: PFS Rule Begins
The PFS, often seeking support from Mussolini's fascist government in Italy, assumed power in 1923, marking the start of their rule in San Marino.
1932: Opening of the Rimini-San Marino Railway
1932 marked the opening of a 31.5-kilometer electrified narrow gauge railway connecting Rimini and the City of San Marino.
1939: Friendship Treaty between San Marino and Italy
The Friendship Treaty between San Marino and Italy was signed in 1939 and served as the basis for future agreements, including the introduction of an import tax in San Marino equivalent to Italy's VAT in 1972.
September 1940: False Declaration of War
In September 1940, an article in The New York Times incorrectly reported that San Marino had declared war on the United Kingdom. The Sammarinese government refuted this claim, asserting their neutrality and communicating their stance to the British government.
July 1943: Declaration of Neutrality
Three days after the fall of the Fascist regime in Italy, the new government in San Marino declared neutrality in the conflict in July 1943.
April 1944: Brief Return of the PFS
The PFS briefly regained power in April 1944, but they maintained San Marino's neutrality in the war.
June 1944: Bombing of San Marino
Despite its declared neutrality, San Marino was bombed by the Royal Air Force in June 1944. This action was based on the mistaken belief that San Marino was occupied by German forces and used for military purposes.
September 1944: Brief German Occupation
San Marino experienced a short-lived occupation by German forces in September 1944. However, Allied forces defeated the Germans in the Battle of San Marino, ending the occupation.
1944: Closure of the Rimini-San Marino Railway
After suffering bomb damage during World War II, the Rimini-San Marino railway ceased operation in 1944.
1945: World's First Democratically Elected Communist Government
In 1945, San Marino witnessed the formation of the world's first democratically elected communist government. This coalition government, comprising the Sammarinese Communist Party and the Sammarinese Socialist Party, came to power.
September 1950: Inaugural Flights at Borgo Maggiore Heliport
Borgo Maggiore's heliport, now a parking lot for the Funivia, inaugurated its first flights in September 1950.
1957: End of the Coalition Government
The coalition government in San Marino, led by the communist and socialist parties, lost power in 1957 due to the events known as the "fatti di Rovereta."
June 1959: Helicopter Line Inauguration
A helicopter line connecting Borgo Maggiore and Rimini's port was inaugurated on 30 June 1959, operated by Compagnia Italiana Elicotteri.
August 1959: Cablecar System Inauguration
The San Marino cable car system was inaugurated on 1 August 1959.
1960: Closure of Torello Station
Torello Station, which served as San Marino's railway connection, was closed in 1960.
1964: Helicopter Line Extension to San Leo
The helicopter line from Borgo Maggiore to Rimini was extended to San Leo in 1964.
1969: Closure of Helicopter Service
The helicopter service connecting Borgo Maggiore to Rimini and San Leo ceased operations in 1969.
1972: Value-added tax (VAT)
In 1972, San Marino introduced an import tax, equivalent to Italy's value-added tax (VAT), as per their 1939 friendship treaty.
1976: Census in San Marino
The first census in San Marino since 1976 was conducted in 2010.
1977: Diocesan Adjustment
In 1977, the border between the Diocese of Montefeltro and the Diocese of Rimini was adjusted, placing all of San Marino within the Diocese of Montefeltro.
1977: Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro
Until 1977, the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro was historically known as the Diocese of Montefeltro.
1981: First Use of Torraccia Airfield's Runway
The grass runway at Torraccia Airfield, located in Torraccia, east of Domagnano, was first used in 1981.
1984: Introduction of Personal Income Tax
San Marino introduced the personal income tax (IGR) in 1984.
1985: Opening of Torraccia Airfield
Torraccia Airfield's structure was officially opened in 1985.
1987: Guard of the Rock Statute
The statute of 1987 formally established the Guard of the Rock as "Criminal Police Officers" in addition to their military responsibilities. They are tasked with assisting the police in major crime investigations.
1988: Joining the Council of Europe
San Marino became a member of the Council of Europe in 1988, marking a significant step in its international relations.
1988: Apostolic Nunciature
An apostolic nunciature to San Marino was formally established in 1988, vested in the nuncio to Italy.
1992: Joining the United Nations
San Marino further expanded its global engagement by joining the United Nations in 1992.
1994: Fatal Accidents at the San Marino Grand Prix
Tragically, the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, held in Imola, Italy, witnessed the fatal accidents of drivers Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna on consecutive days.
1995: Cablecar System Modernization
The San Marino cable car system underwent modernization in 1995 and 1996, including the installation of double load-bearing cables by Doppelmayr Italia.
1996: Hosting the European Cup
San Marino hosted the European Cup, a tournament for top baseball clubs, in 1996.
1996: Cablecar System Modernization
The San Marino cable car system underwent modernization in 1995 and 1996, including the installation of double load-bearing cables by Doppelmayr Italia.
2000: Hosting the European Cup
San Marino hosted the European Cup for the second time in 2000.
2002: San Marino's stake in Aeradria and Airport Naming
San Marino acquired a 3% stake in Fellini Airport's management company, Aeradria, in 2002, leading to the airport's official naming as Rimini-San Marino Airport.
2004: Hosting the European Cup
The European Cup was held in San Marino for the third time in 2004.
2004: San Marino's Sole Football Victory
In 2004, the San Marino national football team achieved its first and only win, a 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein.
2006: Winning the European Cup
San Marino's baseball team achieved victory in the European Cup in 2006.
October 2007: First Disabled Captain Regent
Mirko Tomassoni made history in October 2007 by becoming the first disabled person to be elected as captain regent in San Marino.
2007: Legalization of Casinos
Casinos were outlawed in San Marino prior to 2007, when they were legalized and regulated, with one legal casino currently in operation.
2007: Hosting the European Cup
San Marino hosted the European Cup for the fourth time in 2007.
2007: Removal of the San Marino Grand Prix
The San Marino Grand Prix was removed from the Formula One calendar in 2007.
2007: Reinstatement of the San Marino and Rimini's Coast Motorcycle Grand Prix
The San Marino and Rimini's Coast motorcycle Grand Prix marked its return to the racing calendar in 2007, taking place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
2008: New Election Law and Political Alliances
A new election law introduced in 2008 in San Marino led to a higher threshold for small parties entering Parliament. This resulted in the formation of two main political alliances: the right-wing Pact for San Marino and the left-wing Reforms and Freedom. The Pact for San Marino won the 2008 general election.
2008: UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation
The year 2008 marked a significant moment for San Marino as "San Marino: Historic Centre and Mount Titano" earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage List site during the 32nd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Québec, Canada.
2010: Census in San Marino
The first census since 1976 was conducted in 2010, with results expected by the end of 2011.
2011: Census Results Delay
The results of the 2010 census in San Marino were delayed due to 13% of families not returning their forms by the end of 2011.
2011: Introduction of a separate tax on services
A separate 3% tax on services was introduced in San Marino in 2011.
2011: Winning the European Cup
San Marino's baseball team secured another European Cup championship title in 2011.
July 2012: Runway Extension at Torraccia Airfield
The runway at Torraccia Airfield, San Marino's only aviation facility, was extended to 650 meters in July 2012.
2012: Partial Reopening as Heritage Railway
A section of the former Rimini-San Marino railway, measuring 800 meters, was restored and reopened in 2012 as a heritage railway.
2012: Jewish Population in San Marino
As of 2012, few Jews remain in San Marino, despite the country providing a haven for over 100,000 Jews during World War II.
2012: Opening of the Heritage Railway
In 2012, San Marino opened an 800-meter heritage railway line in the City of San Marino.
September 2013: Bilateral Agreement for Airport Concession
On 16 September 2013, a significant bilateral agreement granted San Marino a forty-year concession over areas of Fellini Airport.
2013: Personal Income Tax Reform
The personal income tax system in San Marino underwent substantial reforms in 2013, aiming to boost fiscal revenue.
October 2014: High Number of Female Heads of State
By October 2014, San Marino had seen more female heads of state than any other nation, with 15 women having served in this role.
2014: Winning the European Cup
The year 2014 saw San Marino's baseball team emerge victorious in the European Cup once again.
2014: Eurovision Song Contest Final Qualification
Valentina Monetta, a San Marino native, secured the country's first-ever qualification for the Eurovision Song Contest final in 2014 with the song "Maybe".
2014: Tourism in San Marino
In 2014, approximately 2 million tourists visited San Marino, contributing to over 22% of the country's GDP.
2016: Gualtieri's Record Broken
The record for the fastest international goal, previously held by San Marino's Davide Gualtieri since 1994, was surpassed in 2016.
2017: Cablecar System Renovation
The San Marino cable car system was further renovated in the spring of 2017.
June 2018: Airport Name Change
In June 2018, Fellini Airport's management company, Ariminum, renamed the airport terminal to "Aeroporto Internazionale di Rimini e San Marino" (Rimini and San Marino International Airport).
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking
In 2019, San Marino received a mean score of 0.01/10 on the Forest Landscape Integrity Index. This ranking placed the country last out of 172 countries assessed globally.
2019: Eurovision Song Contest Final Qualification
San Marino achieved its second Eurovision Song Contest final qualification in 2019 with Turkish singer Serhat's performance of "Say Na Na Na," achieving 19th place in the final.
2019: "Dialogue" Sculpture
The sculpture "Dialogue" by Michele Chiaruzzi, the first monument dedicated to interfaith dialogue, was inaugurated at Saint Anne Chapel in 2019.
June 2020: Highest COVID-19 Death Rate
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, San Marino recorded the highest death rate per capita globally as of June 2020.
2020: Dissolution of the Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino
The Akademio Internacia de la Sciencoj San Marino, known for its use of Esperanto, was dissolved in 2020.
2020: Olympic Medal Wins
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, San Marino etched its name in history by becoming the smallest nation to secure an Olympic medal. Alessandra Perilli won bronze in women's trap shooting, and later, she and Gian Marco Berti added a silver in the mixed trap shooting event.
April 2021: Use of Sputnik V Vaccine
In April 2021, San Marino opted to use the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine instead of EU-approved vaccines. This decision was driven by the slow rollout of the latter vaccines.
2021: Eurovision Song Contest Final Qualification
San Marino celebrated its third Eurovision Song Contest final qualification in 2021, thanks to Italian singer Senhit and American rapper Flo Rida's performance of "Adrenalina".
April 2022: World's First Openly Gay Head of State
Paolo Rondelli, aged 58, was elected as one of San Marino's two captains regent in April 2022. His election marked a historic moment as he became the world's first openly gay head of state.
August 2022: Legalization of Abortion
San Marino took a significant step by legalizing abortion in August 2022. This decision, approved by the legislature, allows for the procedure to be funded by the public health system, making San Marino one of the last European states to overturn previous restrictions on abortion.
August 2023: Sammarinese Authorities' Absence at Airport
As of August 2023, Sammarinese authorities still lack a presence at Fellini Airport, despite the 2013 concession agreement.
September 2023: Population of San Marino
As of September 2023, San Marino's population is estimated at 33,896 residents.
October 2023: High Rate of Car Ownership
As of October 2023, San Marino had the third-highest rate of car ownership globally, surpassing many other countries with more vehicles than people. Gibraltar held the top spot, followed by Guernsey.
December 2023: Bus Routes in San Marino
As of December 2023, eight bus routes operate entirely within San Marino, with most originating from the City of San Marino.