Geographically the third smallest
state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be
the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a
Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is
aligned with that of the European Union, although it is not a member; social
and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger
neighbor, Italy.
(Source: The World Factbook 2009.
Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009)
For more information about San Marino:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html