European Microstates Travel
Microstates or ministates are tiny sovereign states that have a very small population or land area (usually both) recognized by larger entities. In terms of legitimacy and international recognition, they are different from micronations (entities that claim to be independent states but whose sovereignty is not recognized by the international community).
In Europe, there are six microstates — Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City (the Holy See). Four of these entities are monarchies (one papacy - Vatican City and three principalities — Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Monaco). With the exception of Liechtenstein, which was founded in the 17th century, these states can all be traced back to the first or early second millennia. We’ve traveled across the length and breadth of these unique countries.
So through this series of articles, I intend to share our stories and experiences of traveling across the European Microstates with our fellow photography and travel enthusiasts. I hope they help you plan your travels across these beautiful countries!
The Republic of San Marino situated on the slopes of Mount Titano 657 meters (2,156 feet) above sea level, northeast to the Apennine Mountains, is a European microstate landlocked by Italy on all sides, offering breathtaking views of the Adriatic coast. With a population of 33,562 and a land area of just over 61 sq. km, it is the third-smallest independent country in Europe after Vatican City and Monaco, the fifth-smallest country in the world, and until the independence of Nauru (1968), the smallest republic in the world.