European Enclaves and Microstates Quiz

Answer: Italy

The Vatican City is the state described in the question. It is in Rome, capital of Italy, and has an economy based on the sale of stamps, publications, tourist goods, museum fees and Peter's Pence (a voluntary donation made by Roman Catholics throughout the world).

It has been in existence as an independent state since 1929 when Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty on behalf of the Italian king.

Answer: Switzerland

Only some 1.6 square kilometres in area and less than a kilometre from the rest of Italy at its closest, Campione d'Italia is surrounded by the mountains of the Swiss canton of Ticino. Italian is the sole official language in this Swiss canton. Campione started off as a Roman garrison, and it turned down the opportunity to join the Swiss Confederation in 1814. In turn, the town's request in 1848 to be annexed by the Swiss was turned down.

Quirks of the town include the Swiss Franc being legal tender and phoning from Italy requires an international call (unless you are calling the town hall). Here you will also find a casino, the town's biggest employer which exploits lax gaming laws.

Answer: Greece

The Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain (as it is officially known) is situated in Macedonia, Greece. The land extends to some 335 square kilometres. Although a peninsula, access is only available by sea. Technically a part of the European Union (and so receiving EU funding), the free movement of people and goods through the territory is prohibited without the consent of the Athonite State's authorities.

Women are banned to help the monks stay celibate and lessen the distractions on the road to spiritual enlightenment. The ban has been in place since the eleventh century, although there has been the occasional woman taking up the challenge of an unsanctioned visit.

Answer: Finland

The 1809 Treaty of Fredrikshamn brought the Finnish War to an end and saw the Swedes cede around a third of their then country to the Russians, including the strategically important Ċland Islands. The ceded territory later formed the bulk of the independent country of Finland.

These Finnish islands are unusual in being monolingual, Swedish-speaking by law. The 2013 population was around 28,000. The islands were home to copious quantities of one species of mosquito, which was responsible for malaria outbreaks in the islands for at least 150 years. It was also the species which revealed the transmission mechanism for malaria in 1898.

Answer: Second World War

The Second World War saw the construction by Britain of a number of forts to protect various shipping lanes. Sealand was originally HM Fort Rough, a concrete pontoon built in 1943 and towed into position before being flooded to secure it on the sandbank.

The Royal Navy last had a permanent presence in the fort during 1956. A former pirate radio station operator took it over and declared its independence, naming it the Principality of Sealand and himself as His Royal Highness Prince Paddy Roy Bates, The Sovereign Prince of Sealand. Its history includes an invasion, a government in exile, and being put up for sale.

Answer: Andorra

Andorra sits on the border between France and Spain, and has Europe's highest capital, Andorra la Vella, at 1,023 metres in altitude. It is a monarchy ruled nominally by the President of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell, acting as co-princes.

A written constitution was adopted in 1993, limiting the powers of the co-princes. Up until then, a tribute was paid to them in alternate years. Inflation since the Middle Ages has no doubt impacted on the value of this. At one time, the Bishop was receiving roughly $12, six hams, six cheeses and six live chickens.

In 2008 around 80% of Andorra's GDP came from tourism with skiing-related tourism accounting for 70% of that. Its duty-free status makes it attractive to visitors with some ten million tourists recorded in 2008.

Answer: Denmark

Although it did have a Norwegian phase, the Danes took over after the Treaty of Kiel in 1814. There is evidence to suggest that, before the Vikings arrived, the original settlers were Irish, Scottish or Scandinavian. DNA analysis of the current population indicates that most males can trace their lineage to Scandinavia and most females are of Scottish descent.

The Faroese have a high degree of self-governance, however they still receive a financial subsidy from Denmark. When Denmark joined the European Union, the Faroese chose not to. As a result, Danes living in the Faroe Islands are specifically excluded from being EU citizens. Fishing is the main source of income for the islands.

Answer: Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, and extends to about 160 square kilometres with a 2013 estimated population of just over 37,000. The western border is formed by the Rhine.

Its low corporate tax rate and tax haven status has turned it into one of the richest countries in the world (per capita) with a listing of registered companies larger than its population. This is a far cry from the time when the Prince of Liechtenstein was having to sell art treasures in order to meet bills after the Second World War.

Although known as a tax haven, the financial sector accounts for less than a third of the economy. Liechtenstein is a big player in the area of dental products such as false teeth. It also is a significant producer of ceramics.

Answer: Malta

Man's presence in Malta dates back to possibly 5,200 BC, tying in with the extinction of the dwarf hippo and pygmy elephant there. Theories as to the origin of the name 'Malta' link it to the honey produced by the endemic bee or the numerous natural harbours possessed by the island.

Although having a history of invasions, sieges and piracy (for example, the entire population of the island of Gozo, some 5,000 people, were taken as slaves by Barbary pirates in 1551), the Maltese were not conquered by the British but asked to become a British Dominion.

Answer: Italy

At the beginning of the 19th century, Italy had had several centuries as a series of fragmented city states under foreign control. Unification took place during the 19th century but San Marino avoided this after providing sanctuary to one of the key players, Giuseppe Garibaldi, in exchange for a guarantee of independence.

San Marino claims to have the oldest written constitution in the world, a six-volume work in Latin dating to the late 16th century. The country's wealth does not come from gambling since casinos are illegal. Banking, electronics and ceramics are the main industries. Although not a member of the European Union, the Sammarinese have a dispensation to use the euro as their currency. As you can imagine, Italy plays a key role in supporting this landlocked country.