| Seborga | |||
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| — Comune — | |||
| Comune di Seborga | |||
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  Seborga
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| Coordinates: 43°50′N 7°42′E / 43.833°N 7.7°ECoordinates: 43°50′N 7°42′E / 43.833°N 7.7°E | |||
| Country | Italy | ||
| Region | Liguria | ||
| Province | Imperia (IM) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 4.91 km2 (1.9 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 500 m (1,640 ft) | ||
| Population (31 December 2008)[1] | |||
| - Total | 316 | ||
| - Density | 64.4/km2 (166.7/sq mi) | ||
| - Demonym | Seborghini | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 18012 | ||
| Dialing code | 0184 | ||
| Patron saint | San Bernardo | ||
| Saint day | 20 August | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Seborga is a small town in the region of Liguria in northwest Italy, near the French border. Administratively, it is a comune of the Italian province of Imperia, although some locals claim that it is an independent principality. The main economic activities are horticulture and tourism.
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In 954, Seborga's territory was ceded by the counts of Ventimiglia to the monks of Lerino, when the Cistercian monastery was founded. In 1079 its abbots were also made Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, temporally in chief of the principality of Seborga.
On 20 January 1729, however, it was annexed to the Savoy dynasty's Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. Since then it has never been recognized by any state or admitted to an international organisation.
Seborga is known in the region for its agricultural activity: in particular, cultivation and collection of olives and floriculture crops. Thanks to Seborga's publicity as a principality, tourism has expanded in recent years. The principality's historic town centre was also restored, ensuring that its charms were protected from commercial overdevelopment.
An important cultural event in Seborga is the annual festival of Saint Bernard, the town's patron saint, held on August 20. Seborga's twin city is L'Escarène, France.
Seborga is situated along Provincial Road 57 in Imperia. The nearest freeway access is at the Bordighera exit on the A10. The nearest railway station is also the one in Bordighera, on the Ventimiglia-Genoa line.
In the early 1960s, Giorgio Carbone, then head of the local flower-growers co-operative, began promoting the idea that Seborga retained its historic independence as a principality. By 1963 the people of Seborga were sufficiently convinced of these arguments to elect Carbone as their ostensible head of state. He then assumed the title Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga, which he claimed thereafter.[2]
Carbone's status as prince (although without any legal power) was further supported by locals on 23 April 1995, when, in an informal referendum, Seborgans voted 304 in favour, 4 against, for the principality's constitution, and in favour of independence from Italy.[3] Carbone reigned till his death occurred on 25 November 2009[4]. The prince was known locally as Sua Tremendità ('Your Tremendousness').[5]
The Republic of Italy and international institutions consider and treat Seborga (unlike San Marino or Vatican City State, enclaved in the peninsula) as an integral part of the territory of Italy. Moreover, there is no tension between the "Principality" of Seborga and the Italian government, because the "Principality" has only a symbolic value. Law enforcement, public health, telecommunications, school services and all other public services are provided as in the rest of Italy. Seborgans regularly pay taxes, participate in the Italian administrative life, and vote in local and national (Italian) elections. For instance, in the elections of the Senate in 2001 the voter turnout was 84.21%.
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   | Official site - SEBORGA NEL MONDO ONLUS sito ufficiale Seborga nel Mondo - Home |
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