The Oldest Republic – Episode 14

For centuries, San Marino had laws, institutions and a strong political identity. But it had no newspapers.

In this final episode of The Oldest Republic, we explore the history of information and journalism in the Republic, tracing the long path that led San Marino from a world without printing presses to the age of radio, television and digital media.

For generations, printing was prohibited within the Republic. While newspapers and political journals flourished across Italy, San Marino remained largely excluded from this revolution in communication, constrained by diplomatic caution and limited resources. Yet the desire to inform, discuss and participate never disappeared.

The story begins with the first printing presses and the birth of the Republic’s earliest newspapers in the late nineteenth century. Short-lived but ambitious publications experimented with satire, political debate and civic engagement, giving San Marino its first independent voice in print.

The episode then follows the transformation of the press into a political and cultural space. Newspapers linked to different parties and movements became instruments of public debate, while libraries, reading rooms and local initiatives helped expand access to information.

A second major turning point arrived with radio and television. After decades of restrictions, San Marino finally obtained the right to operate its own broadcasting services, leading to the creation of Radio San Marino and, eventually, San Marino RTV, the Republic’s national broadcaster.

Finally, we explore the rise of local newspapers, digital journalism and online media, which brought San Marino fully into the contemporary information landscape.

From prohibited printing presses to podcasts, from political pamphlets to digital news, this episode tells the story of how a small republic learned to speak with its own voice.

A journey through newspapers, radio waves and screens… to discover the voice of the Republic.

#SanMarino #History #TheOldestRepublic #Journalism #Media #Communication

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 14: S. Barducci, Newspapers and Journalism: From the 19th Century to the Present.

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

Chapters
00:00 When Printing was prohibited: Forced Delays
03:55 The First Newspapers
06:45 The Press as a Political and Civil Space
09:53 Radio and Television
12:05 Quick Information: local press and new technologies
14:34 Thank you!

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