San Marino - The World’s Best Kept Secret?

San Marino, otherwise known as the “Most Serene Republic of San Marino” (we’re not kidding, this is the official name), is a self-governing microstate located in the heart of Italy.

It’s so small and insignificant that most people have never even heard of it. But don’t let its size fool you – San Marino is home to some seriously wild and wacky shenanigans.

For one, San Marino claims to be the oldest republic in the world, established way back in the year 301. Geez, these guys have been at it longer than anyone else in Europe!

And let’s not forget the San Marino Grand Prix - a race that somehow manages to be both completely unremarkable and incredibly prestigious all at once. Think of it as the quirky little brother of the Formula 1 world.

But don’t let the grandiose titles and racing events fool you, San Marino has some ridiculous quirks that truly set it apart from the rest. For instance, the country is known for its obsession with stamps. So much so that they even have their own philatelic museum dedicated solely to stamps. Hey, to each their own.

Another unique feature of San Marino is the fact that they have not one, but three official languages. That’s right folks: Italian, Romagnol and…wait for it…Sammarinese. We’re not sure if that last one could be considered an actual language, or if they just made it up as a way to mess with tourists.

But perhaps the best thing about San Marino is their finance industry. Why? Well, the country is widely known as a tax haven where the wealthy can store their assets in complete secrecy. Hey, we can’t judge them for wanting to help out their fellow billionaires.

All in all, San Marino may not be the most exciting place in the world, but it certainly has some unique features that make it stand out, whether they be stamps, wacky languages or hiding cash. Maybe we should all take a leaf out of their book and embrace our quirks a little more.