Joshua Bennett
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state. It is an enclave within Rome, Italy, and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is a popular tourist attraction and contains religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status | A landlocked sovereign state and city-state |
| Governance | Governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and the Roman Curia |
| Population | 882 (2024) |
| Area | 49 hectares (121 acres) |
| Language | Italian |
| Formal Name | Stato della Città del Vaticano |
| Location | Enclave within Rome, situated on the west bank of the Tiber River |
| Main Attractions | St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums |
| Economy | Supported by donations from Catholic believers, sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for museum admissions, and sales of publications |
| Taxation | No income tax and no restriction on the import or export of funds |
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What You'll Learn
- Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state within Rome
- It became independent from the Kingdom of Italy in 1929
- It is the world's smallest fully independent nation-state
- Vatican City is the seat of the Catholic Church
- It is named after Vatican Hill, the geographic location of the state within Rome
Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state within Rome
Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign state and the world's smallest fully independent nation-state. It is also a city-state within Rome, Italy, and became independent from the Kingdom of Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and the Roman Curia. The pope is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.
Vatican City is located in the heart of Rome and is one of the city's main tourist attractions. It is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state, with the pope as its ruler. The Holy See dates back to early Christianity and is the principal episcopal see of the Catholic Church. The city is home to religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums.
Vatican City has its own telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system, and pharmacy. It is financially supported by donations from Catholic believers, the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for museum admissions, and sales of publications. The city has no taxes, and items are duty-free.
Vatican City's medieval and Renaissance walls form its boundaries, with only three entrances open to the public: St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), the Arco delle Campane (Arch of the Bells) in the facade of St. Peter's Basilica, and the entrance to the Vatican Museums and Galleries in the north wall. St. Peter's Basilica is considered the most imposing building in Vatican City, built over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle.
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It became independent from the Kingdom of Italy in 1929
Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state. It is an enclave within Rome, Italy, and is the seat of the Catholic Church. It is the world's smallest fully independent nation-state in terms of both area and population.
Vatican City became independent from the Kingdom of Italy in 1929, with the signing of the Lateran Treaty. The treaty was signed on 11 February 1929 by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III, and by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri for Pope Pius XI. It was ratified and took effect on 7 June 1929.
The Lateran Treaty established the modern city-state, named after Vatican Hill, the geographic location of the state within the city of Rome. The name "Vatican" is derived from the name of an ancient Etruscan settlement, Vatica or Vaticum, located in the area the Romans called Ager Vaticanus, or "Vatican territory".
The independent state of Vatican City was described in the Lateran Treaty as a new creation, distinct from the much larger Papal States that had previously existed. The popes had not recognised the Italian king's right to rule in Rome and had been confined to the Vatican compound until the dispute was resolved in 1929. The treaty established the independence of Vatican City and reaffirmed the special status of Catholic Christianity.
Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, which is a sovereign entity under international law. The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, and it is led by the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.
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It is the world's smallest fully independent nation-state
Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign state and the world's smallest fully independent nation-state, with an area of 49 hectares (121 acres) and a population of about 882 as of 2024. It is an enclave within Rome, Italy, and is the seat of the Catholic Church, serving as the administrative centre of the religion. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly referred to as the Holy See, which is a sovereign entity under international law. The Holy See is led by the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the head of the Catholic Church.
The independent state of Vatican City was established in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty, signed between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. The treaty was ratified and took effect on 7 June 1929. The name "Vatican" is derived from the name of an Etruscan settlement, Vatica or Vaticum, located in the area the Romans called Ager Vaticanus, or "Vatican territory". The Italian-language name of the city is Città del Vaticano, or more formally, Stato della Città del Vaticano, meaning 'State of Vatican City'.
Vatican City contains several religious and cultural sites, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums. These sites feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. The Vatican Museums include the Sistine Chapel, the Chapel of Beato Angelico, and the Raphael Rooms. St. Peter's Basilica is considered the most imposing building in Vatican City, and it was erected over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle. It is the second-largest religious building in Christendom, after the Yamoussoukro Basilica.
Vatican City has its own telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system, and pharmacy. It also has a contingent of Swiss Guards who have been responsible for the pope's safety since 1506. The economy of Vatican City is supported by donations from Catholic believers, the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for museum admissions, and sales of publications. There is no income tax in Vatican City, and items are duty-free.
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Vatican City is the seat of the Catholic Church
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state. It is an enclave within Rome, Italy, and is the seat of the Catholic Church. It became independent from the Kingdom of Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church.
Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population. It is among the least populated capitals in the world, with a population of about 882 in 2024 and an area of 49 hectares (121 acres). The city contains religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums.
The Holy See dates back to early Christianity and is the principal episcopal see of the Catholic Church. The pope is the head of the Catholic Church and resides in the Apostolic Palace within Vatican City. The Holy See derives its income from voluntary contributions from over one billion Roman Catholics worldwide, as well as interest on investments and the sale of stamps, coins, and publications.
Vatican City has its own telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system, and pharmacy. It is financially supported by donations from Catholic believers, the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for admission to museums, and sales of publications. There is no income tax in Vatican City, and items are duty-free.
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It is named after Vatican Hill, the geographic location of the state within Rome
Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state, located within the city of Rome. It is the seat of the Catholic Church and serves as its administrative centre. It is also the world's smallest fully independent nation-state, with an area of 49 hectares and a population of about 882 as of 2024.
Vatican City is named after Vatican Hill, the geographic location of the state within Rome. The name "Vatican" itself has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the name of an Etruscan settlement, Vatica or Vaticum, located in the area the Romans called Ager Vaticanus, which translates to "Vatican territory". The toponym Ager Vaticanus was used until the 1st century AD, after which the toponym Vaticanus denoted a more restricted area—specifically, Vatican Hill, which is the location of today's St. Peter's Square and possibly the Via della Conciliazione.
The independent state of Vatican City was established on 11 February 1929, with the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. This treaty resolved a dispute between the popes and the Italian king, who did not recognise the king's right to rule in Rome. The popes resided within the Vatican walls, and their right to send and receive ambassadors was recognised by the Law of Guarantees. The Lateran Treaty established Vatican City as a new creation, separate from the previous Papal States.
As a sovereign entity, Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly referred to as the Holy See. The Holy See is the principal episcopal see of the Catholic Church and is led by the pope, who is the bishop of Rome. The economy of Vatican City is supported by donations from Catholic believers, sales of postage stamps and souvenirs, admission fees to museums, and sales of various publications.
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Frequently asked questions
Vatican City is located in Rome, Italy. It is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state, as well as the smallest sovereign state in the world by area and population.
Some notable landmarks in Vatican City include St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.
Vatican City became an independent state in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty, signed by the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. This treaty resolved a dispute between the popes and the Italian king, who refused to recognize the king's right to rule in Rome.
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