In the Most Serene Republic Sep 3, 2019

In the Most Serene Republic

Though some of the details of the founding of San Marino vary depending on who is telling the story, what"s certain is that in the 4th century CE, a stone mason built a Christian chapel on a hill near the Mediterranean coast and founded the settlement that would share a name with Saint Marinus. Over the centuries European nations grew, shrank, and changed—but San Marino remained, ultimately bordered on all sides by Italy. Today, this tiny nation, sometimes called the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, celebrates 1,718 years of existence and its continued status as the world"s smallest republic—24 square miles of quaint European charm embedded in Italy"s northeastern region.

© Piercarlo Abate/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Sep 3, 2018Construction workers resting above Manhattan
Sep 3, 2020Tall, taller, tallest
Sep 3, 2021Welcome to the Alien Egg Hatchery
Sep 3, 2022Skyscraper Day
Sep 3, 2023Skyscraper Day
Sep 3, 2024Wilderness Act anniversary
Sep 3, 2025Annivesary of the Wilderness Act of 1964

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 23, 2025The Elbe in Dresden, Germany
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Mar 7, 2018Chapel of St. Michel on Lake Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
Dec 4, 2023International Cheetah Day
Apr 3, 2020The rainbow connection
Jul 26, 2023International Day of Mangrove Conservation
Oct 4, 2023World Space Week
Jan 5, 2020Digging the birds
Jul 26, 2024Summer Olympics begin in Paris
Mar 7, 2026The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany
Sep 20, 2022Sea Otter Awareness Week
Dec 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
May 22, 2024International Day for Biological Diversity
Nov 1, 2023Native American Heritage Month
Oct 14, 2018Gone ‘lightseeing’ in Berlin
Jul 7, 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Sep 10, 2025Hay bales in North Yorkshire, England
Oct 16, 2019Paleontology meets art
Nov 1, 2022Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico
Apr 2, 2019Books for children of all ages
Nov 11, 2018Poppies for Armistice Day
Feb 2, 2019Groundhog Day arrives—beyond a shadow of a doubt
Oct 28, 2023Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Mar 15, 2018The Colosseum of Rome, Italy
Mar 30, 2019Here’s why landmarks are going dark
Dec 18, 2019It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
Aug 30, 2021Behold the perfect cone
Jul 1, 2019It’s Canada’s national day
Mar 19, 2019The smoke before the bonfire
Apr 15, 2025World Art Day