{"id":39788,"date":"2023-12-17T08:10:46","date_gmt":"2023-12-17T08:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamiheatnation.com\/?p=39788"},"modified":"2023-12-17T08:10:46","modified_gmt":"2023-12-17T08:10:46","slug":"the-pretty-town-which-claims-to-be-its-own-country-after-paperwork-blunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamiheatnation.com\/world-news\/the-pretty-town-which-claims-to-be-its-own-country-after-paperwork-blunder\/","title":{"rendered":"The pretty town which claims to be its own country after paperwork blunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Seborga is a tiny micronation set on the scenic Italian Riviera with big hopes and dreams. The Principality of Seborga already has its own flag, national anthem, passports, currency, and even a monarch.<\/p>\n

It hopes one day to gain legal recognition over its sovereignty, but for now, it is a picturesque town in the northern Italian province of Imperia, close to France, and home to 320 permanent residents.<\/p>\n

Seborga was donated to Benedictine monks in the year 954, until they sold it in 1729 to the Kingdom of Sardinia, which would later become part of the Kingdom of Italy.<\/p>\n

But it is thought there is no historical record of the sale, which means Seborga was never legitimately part of Italy at all.<\/p>\n

Speaking to CNN Travel, Graziano Graziani, an expert on Italian micronations said: “It is difficult to think that, almost 300 years later, this absence of documentation is a realistic basis on which to build a legal recognition. However, the community that believes in the independence of Seborga bases its demands precisely on it.”<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> The pretty village that you can only reach by boat is among world’s best<\/strong><\/p>\n

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There is nothing illegal in the activities of the principality as real usage passports are not allowed and the local currency, the Luigino, is accepted in shops around town but is essentially a souvenir.<\/p>\n

The principality is currently ruled by Princess Nina Menegatto. The German-born was elected to her role in November 2019 and is Seborga\u2019s first female ruler.<\/p>\n

Speaking to AFP she said: “I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever become a princess. But I got a lot of support from the population and I really appreciate it.<\/p>\n

“I guess every little girl has a dream of being a princess. It\u2019s like a fairytale.<\/p>\n

However, the town’s population is withering away as people are moving to bigger cities to find better jobs.\u00a0By declaring independence, Seborga hopes to reverse the trend and drive more tourism to the town.<\/p>\n

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