The Oldest Republic – Episode 13

For centuries, culture in San Marino was built patiently: one archive, one book, one theatre, one museum at a time.

In this episode of The Oldest Republic, we explore how the Republic gradually created the institutions responsible for preserving its memory, showcasing its heritage and fostering cultural life. What began as a scattered collection of documents, books and local initiatives eventually became a structured system capable of representing San Marino both at home and abroad.

The journey begins with the State Archive and the State Library, institutions born from the need to preserve documents, organise knowledge and safeguard the continuity of the Republic. Through the work of scholars, historians and administrators, these collections evolved into essential pillars of San Marino’s cultural identity.

We then turn to the museums. From the first collections assembled in the nineteenth century to the development of the State Museum and the expansion of specialised museums dedicated to archaeology, arms, philately, migration and contemporary art, we follow the growing awareness that cultural heritage needed not only to be collected, but also protected and shared.

The episode also reflects on difficult moments, including the loss of the famous Domagnano Treasure, an event that helped shape modern policies for the protection of cultural heritage.

Finally, we explore the world of theatre, cinema and music. From early theatrical performances and community bands to modern cultural institutions, festivals and artistic education, San Marino gradually developed a vibrant cultural life that extended well beyond archives and museum walls.

At the heart of this story lies a simple idea: preserving the past is not enough. A republic must also create spaces where memory, creativity and community can meet.

A small state building culture… one institution at a time.

#SanMarino #History #TheOldestRepublic #Culture #Museums #Heritage

Subscribe to our channels to follow the full series:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@storiainflanella/featured
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zuAthwqVO4rRJffD6yzkr?si=3fff127dd1a3495f

This podcast is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs of San Marino, with the support of the San Marino Centre for Historical Studies (University of San Marino).

The texts are based on L. Gorgolini, S. Pivato (eds.), History of San Marino, 2026. This episode is based on chapter 13: V. Testaj, The Development of Cultural Institutions.

Author: Giuseppe Giardi
Hosts: Carlotta Serra Ciotti and Federica Ghirotti
Video: Luca Zucchi

Chapters
00:00 Preserve, organise, legitimise: State Archive and Library
05:11 Exhibit, protect, represent. Museums and figurative arts
10:03 Theatre, cinema, music

The Oldest Republic – Episode 12

Before chronicles, before documents, even before words, there were traces.

In this episode of The Oldest Republic, we travel deep into the ancient past of San Marino, exploring what archaeology can reveal about the people who lived on Mount Titano long before the Republic emerged in written history. Through excavations, accidental discoveries and forgotten artefacts, a story of settlements, cults and cultural transformations gradually comes to light.

We begin with the history of archaeological research itself, from the first discoveries made by nineteenth-century scholars to the more systematic excavations carried out during the twentieth century. What initially appeared to be an isolated mountain soon revealed itself as part of a much larger historical landscape.

The episode then takes us to Tanaccia, a remarkable sanctuary carved into the rock near the summit of Mount Titano. Used for centuries as a sacred site, it preserves evidence of ancient rituals, healing cults and contacts between local communities and the wider Roman world.

From there, we explore the Roman period, when the territory of San Marino became integrated into the economic and cultural networks centred on nearby Ariminum, modern Rimini. Villas, farms and productive settlements transformed the landscape, linking the mountain to the wider Mediterranean world.

Finally, we move into Late Antiquity, an age of crisis, migration and transformation. Through discoveries such as the famous Domagnano Treasure, one of the most important archaeological finds in San Marino’s history, we encounter the Gothic elites, the spread of Christianity and the complex world from which the medieval community would eventually emerge.

Archaeology does not tell us everything. But through fragments, ruins and forgotten objects, it allows us to glimpse a past that existed long before the oldest republic in the world took shape.

A journey beneath the surface… to discover the deepest roots of San Marino.

#SanMarino #History #TheOldestRepublic #Archaeology #AncientHistory

Subscribe to our channels to follow the full series:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@storiainflanella/featured
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zuAthwqVO4rRJffD6yzkr?si=3fff127dd1a3495f

This podcast is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs of San Marino, with the support of the San Marino Centre for Historical Studies (University of San Marino).

The texts are based on L. Gorgolini, S. Pivato (eds.), History of San Marino, 2026. This episode is based on chapter 12: V. Casali, B. Gruska, Archaeological Discoveries: Settlements in Antiquity.

Author: Giuseppe Giardi
Hosts: Carlotta Serra Ciotti and Federica Ghirotti
Video: Luca Zucchi

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:02 Research in San Marino Territory
04:51 A Sanctuary in the Rock
09:04 The Romans on Mount Titano
12:58 Late Antiquity
16:07 Conclusion

The Oldest Republic – Episode 11

How does a republic tell its own story through art?

In this episode of The Oldest Republic, we explore the artistic heritage of San Marino through three symbolic places that reveal how the Republic has represented itself across the centuries. Rather than offering a complete history of art, we follow a journey through buildings, images and monuments that connect memory, identity and power.

Our first stop is the Church and Convent of Saint Francis, one of the oldest and most significant religious complexes in the Republic. From medieval foundations and Renaissance frescoes to works linked to the great artistic centres of Italy, this site tells a story of faith, culture and artistic exchange.

We then move to the Monastery of Saint Clare, whose history begins during the Catholic Reformation and unfolds through the lives of the women who inhabited it. More than a religious building, it became a place of education, memory and community, leaving behind a rich artistic and cultural legacy.

Finally, we arrive at the Government Palace, perhaps the most symbolic building in San Marino. Rebuilt in the nineteenth century in a neo-medieval style, it was designed not only as a seat of government but also as a visual statement of the Republic’s identity, linking its institutions to the myth of perpetual freedom and its medieval origins.

Throughout the episode, we encounter vanished buildings, rediscovered artworks, ambitious restorations and carefully crafted symbols. Together, they reveal how San Marino has continuously used art and architecture to shape the image it presents to itself and to the world.

A small republic telling its story… through stone, images and memory.

#SanMarino #History #TheOldestRepublic #Art #CulturalHeritage

Subscribe to our channels to follow the full series:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@storiainflanella/featured
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zuAthwqVO4rRJffD6yzkr?si=3fff127dd1a3495f

This podcast is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs of San Marino, with the support of the San Marino Centre for Historical Studies (University of San Marino).

The texts are based on L. Gorgolini, S. Pivato (eds.), History of San Marino, 2026. This episode is based on chapter 11: M. Bollini, Art Through the Centuries: Three Significant Monuments.

Author: Giuseppe Giardi
Hosts: Carlotta Serra Ciotti and Federica Ghirotti
Video: Luca Zucchi

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Saint Francis’ Church
05:31 Monastery of Saint Clare
10:04 Government Building
14:22 Conclusion