San Marino

A country in the Apennines near the Adriatic Sea. It is surrounded by Italy and is the world's smallest republic. Traditionally founded in the fourth century A.D., San Marino was recognized by the papacy in 1631 and has maintained its independence, with a few brief interruptions, ever since. It signed a treaty of friendship with Italy in 1862, was allied with Italy in World Wars I and II, and was bombed by the Allied forces in 1944. The city of San Marino is its capital. The country's population is 28,600; the city's, 4,300.