Southern Europe · EuropeVatican City
Discover Vatican City - the world's smallest independent state at 0.49 km2, home to the Pope, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.
Where Is Vatican City?
Vatican City is a city-state in Southern Europe.
- Capital Vatican City
- Population 882
- Area 0.49 km²
Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population - just 0.49 square kilometers and around 800 residents. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in influence. This is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, home to the Pope, and the spiritual center for over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. The Vatican has its own post office, radio station, army (the Swiss Guard), and even its own telescope.
Despite being entirely enclosed within the city of Rome, the Vatican operates as a fully sovereign nation with its own passport, license plates, and banking system. The art collection inside these walls is staggering - Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling, Raphael's rooms, and the Vatican Museums contain one of the most important collections of art in human history. St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world and took 120 years to build. The Vatican Library holds manuscripts dating back to the 4th century. It's the kind of place where you could spend weeks and still not see everything, crammed into a space smaller than most golf courses.
At a glance
Largest cities in Vatican City
Vatican City
Famous people from Vatican City
Michelangelo
ArtPainted the Sistine Chapel ceiling over four years (1508-1512) and designed St. Peter's dome, though he was born in Tuscany
Pope Francis
PoliticsFirst Pope from the Americas (Argentina), known for his progressive stance and focus on social justice
Raphael
ArtPainted the Vatican Stanze including The School of Athens, one of the most famous frescoes in Western art
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
ArtDesigned St. Peter's Square, the Baldachin, and numerous sculptures within the Vatican
Traditional cuisine of Vatican City
- Vatican Cafeteria
- The Vatican has its own cafeteria and pharmacy, but no real restaurants - residents typically eat Italian food from nearby Rome
- Communion Wine
- The Vatican has its own wine cellar and pharmacy, and Italian wines are served at papal events
- Roman Cuisine
- Vatican residents eat Roman cuisine - cacio e pepe, carbonara, and suppli are daily staples from neighboring trattorias
Nature and landmarks in Vatican City
- Vatican GardensLandmark
- Elaborate gardens covering about half the country's area, with Renaissance and Baroque landscaping dating back to 1279
- St. Peter's SquareLandmark
- Bernini's masterpiece - a massive elliptical piazza embraced by 284 Doric columns, the heart of the Catholic world
- St. Peter's BasilicaLandmark
- One of the largest churches in the world, built over the tomb of Saint Peter, crowned by Michelangelo's dome
- Sistine ChapelLandmark
- The chapel where popes are elected, its ceiling painted by Michelangelo is one of the greatest achievements in art history
Sports in Vatican City
- Football
- Vatican City has a football team but is not a FIFA member, playing only friendly matches against other micro-states
- Athletics
- The Vatican has sent athletes to international competitions under its own flag
Did you know?
Vatican City is the world's smallest country at 0.49 square kilometers, smaller than many city parks
The Swiss Guard has protected the Pope since 1506, and recruits must be Swiss, Catholic, single males under 30
The Vatican has the highest crime rate per capita in the world - mostly pickpocketing by tourists, not residents
Vatican City has its own post office, and locals prefer it to Italy's because it's more reliable
The Vatican Secret Archives contain 84 kilometers of shelving and documents dating back over 1,200 years
Latin is still an official language - the Vatican's ATMs offer instructions in Latin
The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world, founded in 1891
Can you find Vatican City on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Vatican City and its neighbours without a second thought.
