Vatican City
Vatikan, Vatican City
05.05.2012
The Vatican City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located within the city of Vatican, in the heart of Rome. This ecclesiastical state covers an area of just 44 hectares and is the smallest independent state in the world. Despite its small size, Vatican City is home to some of the most important and iconic landmarks in the world, making it a must-see destination for travelers and history enthusiasts alike.
The history of Vatican City dates back to 326 AD, when Emperor Constantine gifted the land to Pope Sylvester I. However, it wasn't until 1929 that the Lateran Treaty officially recognized Vatican City as an independent state, with Pope Pius XI as its ruler. This treaty established the Holy See as a sovereign entity, granting it full jurisdiction over the Vatican City.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Vatican City is St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world and the center of Catholicism. This Renaissance-style church was built on the site where St. Peter, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, was buried. The Dome of St. Peter's Basilica is a masterpiece of engineering and offers stunning views of the city.
Another must-see attraction in Vatican City is the Vatican Museums, which house one of the largest and most important art collections in the world. The Sistine Chapel, with its frescoes by Michelangelo and Botticelli, is a highlight of the museum. Visitors can also admire the Gallery of Maps, which features 40 panels depicting maps of Italy painted in the 16th century.
Vatican City is not only known for its religious significance, but also for its rich cultural heritage. The Vatican Library, one of the oldest libraries in the world, houses a collection of over 1.1 million books including manuscripts from as early as the 2nd century. The Vatican Gardens, a private botanical garden within the city, is a peaceful oasis filled with beautiful fountains and sculptures.
Visiting Vatican City is a unique experience that allows you to step into the heart of Catholicism and explore the rich history of this small but mighty state. Whether you are religious or not, the Vatican City is a fascinating and important destination that should not be missed.
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The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its centre is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano; Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), often shortened as the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign state and city-state. Ruled by the pope, it is an enclave within Rome and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law, which maintains its temporal power, governance, diplomacy, and spiritual independence. Vatican is also used as a metonym for the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and the Roman Curia. The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, which spoke of it as a new creation, not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756–1870), which had previously encompassed much of Central Italy.
With an area of 49 hectares (121 acres) and a population of about 882 in 2024, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world both by area and by population. It is among the least populated capitals in the world. As governed by the Holy See, Vatican City State is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church; the highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various origins. The Holy See dates to early Christianity and is the principal episcopal see of the Catholic Church, which in 2018 had about 1.329 billion baptized Catholics in the world, in the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. After the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) the popes have mainly resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in the Quirinal Palace in Rome or elsewhere.
Vatican City contains religious and cultural sites such as St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. The economy of Vatican City is supported financially by donations from Catholic believers, by the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for admission to museums, and sales of publications. Vatican City has no taxes, and items are duty-free.
