THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



147 



Photograph from Alice Rohe 



THE ONION CURB MARKET: SAN MARINO 



The commercial life of the Republic centers in the Borgo, and every market day house- 

 wives and servants come down from the heights to buy their vegetables. Important fairs 

 are also held here in September and October, when traders come not merely from all parts 

 of the 38 square miles of San Marino, but from neighboring towns of Italy as well. 



teously refused. Writing to his minister 

 regarding the map of Italy, he said : 



"We consider San Marino as a model 

 Republic." 



THE GOVERNING BODY 



Today the government of San Marino, 

 impregnated with the spirit of its fourth 

 century founder, preserves picturesque 

 forms and customs. 



A council of sixty citizens — the Grand 

 Council — is the governing body, which 

 has the supreme power accorded it by the 

 primitive popular Arringo, composed of 

 heads of families. Until recent times 

 these sixty were chosen, one-third from 

 the patricians, one-third from the land- 

 owners, and one-third from the peasants. 

 There is no official recognition of nobility 

 in these days, patricians and nobles, al- 



