San Marino Foundation Day

San Marino Foundation Day

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  1. 301Stonemason Marinus founds a Christian community on Monte Titano
  2. 1600San Marino adopts its Statutes — one of the world's oldest written constitutions
  3. 1992San Marino joins the United Nations

Why San Marino celebrates 3 September

San Marino celebrates its Foundation Day on 3 September — the feast day of Saint Marinus, a stonemason from the island of Rab (in modern Croatia) who founded a small Christian community on the top of Monte Titano in 301 AD. According to tradition, Marinus built a small chapel on the mountain and established a religious community that gradually became an independent state.

San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic and the world's oldest surviving sovereign state. Its constitution of 1600 — the Leges Statutae Republicae Sancti Marini — is one of the world's oldest written national constitutions still in use. Despite being completely surrounded by Italy, San Marino has maintained its independence for over 1700 years.

Foundation Day is a colourful medieval celebration. Archers in historical costume perform crossbow tournaments in Piazza della Libertà. A medieval pageant with flag-waving, drumming and period costumes processes through the historic centre. The two captains regent — San Marino's co-heads of state, elected every six months — attend the ceremony in full historical regalia.

  1. 20263 September 2026 · Thursday
  2. 20273 September 2027 · Friday
  3. 20283 September 2028 · Sunday
The San Marinese flag
San Marino flag

The San Marinese flag has two horizontal bands of white over sky blue — the colours of the clouds and sky above Monte Titano — with the coat of arms in the centre. The arms show three towers on Monte Titano, surrounded by oak and laurel wreaths and bearing the motto LIBERTAS — Liberty. The three towers correspond to the three fortresses on the mountain.

San Marino's food is Romagnolo Italian — similar to the Emilia-Romagna region that surrounds it, with pasta, truffle, salumi and Sangiovese wine.

What to eat

Torta Tre MontiSan Marino's signature wafer cake layered with hazelnut cream and coated in chocolate.
Fagioli con le coticheBorlotti beans slow-cooked with pork rinds and tomato — a mountain Italian classic.
PiadinaThin flatbread filled with squacquerone cheese, rocket and prosciutto — the Romagnolo staple.
Pasta al ragùEgg pasta with slow-cooked meat sauce — the Emilian tradition shared by San Marino.
BustrengoDense cake made with figs, anise and cornmeal — a traditional San Marinese dessert.
FritoleFried dough balls with raisins and pine nuts — eaten at festivals and the Foundation Day market.

What to drink

San Marino BrugnetoSan Marino's local herbal liqueur — an anise-based digestif.
SangioveseThe grape of Romagna — San Marino produces its own Sangiovese wine from hillside vineyards.
GutturnioRed wine from the nearby Piacenza hills — consumed across the Emilia region including San Marino.
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San Marino culture

San Marino's culture is that of a tiny medieval republic that has survived by maintaining its independence against all odds. Its crossbow tournaments, its twin captains regent and its panoramic fortresses are unique in Europe.

Crossbow tournamentThe Palio delle Balestre — medieval crossbow competition between the fortresses of San Marino, held on Foundation Day.
Three fortressesGuaita, Cesta and Montale — the three medieval towers on Monte Titano visible from across the Romagna plain.
Captains Regent ceremonySan Marino elects two new co-heads of state every six months — the investiture ceremony is held in the Council chamber.
Palazzo PubblicoThe Gothic government palace in Piazza della Libertà — the symbolic heart of San Marino's republic.