ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Republic of San Marco

San Marco is a special place with its own government, kind of like a little country. This place is called a "republic" which means that instead of having a king or queen, the people who live there get to choose their own leaders to make important decisions for them.

The Republic of San Marco is located in the city of Venice in Italy and it was created back in 1162. This special place was named after Saint Mark, who is the patron saint of Venice.

In the past, many different groups of people tried to take control of San Marco, but the people there really wanted to be in charge of their own destiny. They held onto their independence for many years until finally, in 1797, they were overpowered by another big country who wanted to control them.

Even though the Republic of San Marco doesn't exist anymore, the people who used to live there are very proud of their history and culture. They celebrate it in many ways, like having big festivals and parades. And if you ever visit Venice, you can see reminders of the Republic of San Marco all around the city.