Panorama Photo

Is this San Marino Città in the distance ?

Yes, it's San Marino. It's amazing how the view of San Marino changes depending on your vantage point.

Just read a little bit about San Marino - amazing that they are still independent, and nobody else achieved this. Cheers, Martin

@Martin: I'd like to open a discussion on the absurdity (in my opinion) of Hegel's and Marx's historical determinism, but this isn't the right place :-)
I'll simply point out that Europe also includes Andorra, the Principality of Monaco, and, to a certain extent, even the Vatican City.

One of the (if not the) world's oldest republic ?

@ Hans-Jürgen: Certainly, but this is not synonymous with democracy. San Marino was governed until 1906 by a narrow oligarchy. When fascism reigned in Italy, San Marino was ruled by a fascist regime.
And without going too far, women were only granted the vote in 1960, making it one of the last European nations to do so.
The reasons for San Marino's independence would be a long discussion and I don't think anyone on this site would be interested.
That said, I like San Marino; I go there rarely, but always willingly.

At least ~11 years before women could vote in CH :-)
Just to make clear that I herewith not try to compare RSM with CH, it just struck my mind about women’s voting in Europe….

Il suo nome deriva da un Marino arrivato dall'altra sponda dell'Adriatico, precisamente da Arbe, che sul Titano ha insediato una comunità monastica nell'alto Medioevo. Mi si lasci qui usare il dolcissimo nome veneziano di Arbe anzichè l'attuale ruvido Rab croato...
Ciao, Alvise