Discuss what is the smallest town in the world is to do so from localities that, for one reason or another, have been losing importance over the centuries. But, in addition, we can do it based on several criteria.
We have the possibility of choosing the one that has a surface more reduced or the one who has fewer inhabitants. Likewise, we can choose the smallest size among those cataloged as villa or among those who hold the status of city. In all these cases, we would still be answering the question of which is the smallest town in the world. Therefore, to make our article complete, we are going to tell you about all of them.
Hum, the smallest city in the world
We start by talking to you about the considered smallest city in the world. That is, the smallest among those who have that recognition. This is indicated by the famous Guinness Book of Records. It is located northwest of Croatia and in the central area of Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea.
Likewise, its population is 17 inhabitants. But the whole town is very beautiful. It is made up of narrow, winding streets with traditional stone houses. In addition, it offers you very interesting places. Good samples are church of Saint Jerome, Romanesque style, although its façade was rebuilt in the XNUMXth century with neoclassical features, and its medieval walls.
But the most curious thing you can see in Hum is the Glagolitic writing wall. The oldest known Slavic alphabet receives this name, as it is considered created by the saints Cyril and Methodius in the XNUMXth century. They wanted with him to facilitate the introduction of Christianity in the Great Moravia. The aforementioned wall is located in the church. But, throughout the town there are other examples of this writing. It even has a small museum dedicated to her.
The smallest towns in the world by size and inhabitants
We now focus on which is the smallest town in the world. That is, among those who fall into such category. And the truth is that it is not entirely clear. There are several locations that aspire to this recognition. To give you an idea, not even in Spain we agree.
For example, in our country and speaking of surface area, there are those who give that qualification to Pushy, in the province of Zaragoza, while others give it to Emperor, in Valencia. We will talk to you about this last one later and, as we will see, it is not like that. But, returning to which is the smallest town in the world, we will show you several so that you can choose the one that, in your opinion, deserves this first place.
Buford
This town of United States It may be the smallest on the planet both in size and number of inhabitants. As for these, he only has one. And regarding its size, you will get an idea of it if we tell you that it only has a house, a store, a school, a gas station and a post office.
Here we must make another clarification. Maybe there are even smaller towns. For example, only with three houses. But, lacking any basic service, we would not classify it as a town, but as a inhabited core. On the other hand, as a curiosity, we will tell you that, a few years ago, Buford was put up for sale for $ 75.
Illan de Vacas
In our country we talk a lot lately about depopulated Spain and this town in the province of Toledo, Long-Tailed Manakin It is a good example of her. It had almost three hundred inhabitants in the middle of the XNUMXth century and still had almost a hundred in the XNUMXs. But currently, there is only one. As a curiosity, we will tell you that in addition is the mayor.
However, it is a town with a lot of history. Its first written mention dates back to the XNUMXth century, although it is believed that its foundation dates back to earlier. Specifically, in times of the Muslim taifa of Toledo. Even the king Felipe II He asked about those origins. As a sample of those times, you can see the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady.
But, in addition, Illán de Vacas belongs to the region of Torrijos, which also includes such beautiful towns as The Puebla de Montalbán, Mentrid o fuensalida. But, if you come to know Illán, we advise you to also visit the city itself. Torrijos.
In this villa you have to see the imposing Collegiate Church of the Blessed Sacrament, built in the XNUMXth century. It responds to the moment of transition from Gothic to Renaissance style. You should also approach the Spain Square, which dates from the same century; to the Palace of Don Pedro de Castilla, in which some coffered ceilings and the two cloisters stand out, and to the Chapel of the Christ of the Blood.
atrani
Regarding which is the smallest town in the world, this would meet the conditions due to size, since its surface area is 0,20 square kilometers. It is located in the province of Salerno and is part of the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Therefore, as a member of this, he has been declared Heritage.
On the other hand, it has almost a thousand inhabitants. The disproportion between these and their size is explained by the peculiar configuration of the town. Like others in the area, it is located in a kind of natural amphitheater which ends at the beach and in which the houses seem to be superimposed on each other.
However, as a curiosity, we will tell you that it is not the smallest town in Italy. This recognition is held by Primiero Fair, located in the province of Trento and which has an extension of 0,15 square kilometers.
Returning to Atrani, its nerve center is the Humbert I Square, made up of colored houses. But its main monument is the church of San Salvatore de Birecto, whose tower dates back to the XNUMXth century and is the oldest in the area. If you visit, you can climb to its highest part and appreciate wonderful views of the Amalfi Coast. Finally, we cannot forget the charming beach, with its crystal clear waters and white sand.
Castelmoron-d'Albret
We now travel to France to visit this beautiful fortified town located in the department of Gironde of the historic region of Aquitaine. In this case, it comes to our list because it is about the smallest commune in the neighboring country. As a clarification, we will tell you that the communes there are equivalent to our municipalities and that of Castelmoron-d'Albret only has 3,54 hectares.
As for its current population, it is 55 inhabitants. But, as we told you, it is a very beautiful town. They highlight their medieval walls and its narrow streets decorated with flowers. Also, you can see the old Ducal Palace, today converted into City Hall, and the church of Sainte-Catherine-et-Notre-Dame, which will catch your attention for its unique façade ending in a triangular belfry.
On the other hand, in Cours-de-Monsegur, capital of the canton to which it belongs, you can visit the church of San Martín, which is Romanesque from the 1528th century. Finally, as an anecdote, we will tell you that he was born in Castelmoron in XNUMX. Joan of Albret, mother of the king Henry IV and a relevant figure of Protestantism in France.
Emperador, the small Valencian town
We finish our review of which is the smallest town in the world, telling you about Emperor. Because this municipality in the province of Valencia has an extension of only 0,032 square kilometers or, which is the same, about three football fields. To be more specific, it is made up of nine streets with their homes and six businesses for a total population of 705 inhabitants. In fact, it is also known as The Emperor's Sale because until the XNUMXth century it was, precisely, an inn on the road to Sagunto. It was then when a Valencian businessman named Augustine Emperor He set up several factories there and built homes for his workers.
In fact, Corona He gave it the lordship of the place until it became a municipality after that legal figure was abolished in 1837. Therefore, there are not many monuments that you can see in this town. However, we advise you to visit the hermitage of the Virgin of the Rosary. It is a simple building whose façade is located between two houses. It has an open arch above which there is a niche with the image of that virgin, patron saint of the town. Also, you can see the palace which Agustín Emperor himself built to be his residence. It is neoclassical in style and stands out for its square tower.
To make everything even more curious, this municipality is not the smallest in the province of Valencia. Such honor belongs to New Crown Place, which has an area of 0,0126 square kilometers and a population of 109 inhabitants. It is located in the Huerta Sur region, whose most populated city is Torrent.
In conclusion, we have tried to answer the question what is the smallest town in the world. To do this, we have attended to several criteria, trying not to leave any of these small towns out of our article. But there are other towns that also stand out for their small size or few inhabitants. For example, Cold, In the region of Las Merindades de Burgos, Which is the smallest city in Spain. Dare to visit these beautiful towns.