As San Marino is a microstate completely landlocked by Italy, Sammarinese cuisine is strongly similar to the Italian cuisine, especially that of the adjoining Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions. However, although partly based on a typical Mediterranean diet, it also draws on a richer eclectic cuisine and has a number of its own unique dishes and products.
San Marino has the political framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic: the Captains Regent are the heads of state, and there is a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Grand and General Council. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The territory of San Marino (61 sq. km/24 sq. m) is mostly hilly country with Mount Titano in the center. It was founded, according to tradition in 301 A.D. Legend has it that a master stone-cutter, Marinus, left is native island and came to Mount Titano to establish a small community of Christians anxious to escape the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian.