The term “micro republic” might sound a little like a guy who’s deemed his front yard an independent country.
But it more accurately refers to tiny countries with historical independence who retain it to this day. A perfect example of this is San Marino, tucked into Italy’s Apennine Mountains and completely surrounded by another country (still Italy). Its capital, also called San Marino, is a gorgeous, historic, walled city that tells the story of how this tiny state has survived for centuries.
Since it’s far up in the mountains, this 24-square mile country is also a fantastic place to hike. The three towers on Monte Titano are the quintessential destination, but you can also take a gondola from town to town and get your steps in walking the sunny piazzas. Then sleep it off in a centuries-old castle. We’ll show you how to do it all, plus explain all the reasons why living here will help you prolong your life.
This country is around 50 times smaller than the smallest US state, Rhode Island.