Vatican City, Religious capital and sovereign enclave in Rome, Italy
Vatican City extends across 110 acres (44 hectares) within Rome and serves as the administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, with St. Peter's Basilica as its central point, along with extensive gardens, palace complexes, and the Sistine Chapel within its walls.
The Lateran Treaty of 1929 established Vatican City as an independent state, resolving territorial disputes between the Holy See and the Italian government that emerged after the annexation of the Papal States in 1870 during Italian unification.
The Vatican Museums house extensive collections of religious artifacts, Renaissance paintings, sculptures, and historical documents spanning over two millennia of church history, drawing millions of visitors from around the world each year.
Visitors must follow strict dress codes when entering religious buildings, covering shoulders and knees, and pass security checks at all entry points. Wednesday mornings are reserved for papal audiences when scheduled in advance.
The Vatican postal service issues its own stamps, coins, and license plates, while the Swiss Guard serves as the military force in traditional 16th-century Renaissance uniforms, recruiting members exclusively from Catholic cantons of Switzerland.
Location: Vatican City
Inception: February 11, 1929
Shares border with: Italy, European Union
Address: 00120, Vatican City
Website: http://vaticanstate.va/es.html
GPS coordinates: 41.90349,12.45283
Latest update: November 30, 2025 16:16
This collection encompasses the world's smallest countries and territories by land area, measured including lakes and rivers within their borders. The list features both independent sovereign states and dependent territories with varying political statuses. From Vatican City at 0.4 square kilometers to Monaco and San Marino in Europe, and island nations in the Caribbean such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, this selection demonstrates the geographic diversity of compact territories. The European microstates offer medieval fortifications, princely palaces, and modern financial districts within limited spaces. Pacific atolls like Nauru and Tuvalu present coral formations and tropical coastlines, while Caribbean islands combine volcanic mountains, rainforests, and colonial architecture. Despite their limited size, these countries and territories maintain their own governmental systems, cultures, and economic models ranging from tourism and financial services to fishing and agriculture.
Saint Peter's Basilica
149 m
Sistine Chapel
145 m
The Creation of Adam
136 m
Sistine Chapel ceiling
136 m
Pietà
196 m
The Last Judgment
137 m
Vatican Museums
349 m
Apostolic Palace
295 m
Saint Peter's Square
393 m
Augustus of Prima Porta
354 m
Saint Peter's tomb
149 m
St. Peter's Dome
124 m
Raphael Rooms
295 m
Vatican Library
191 m
Vatican obelisk
321 m
St. Peter's Baldachin
149 m
Apollo Belvedere
349 m
Vatican Necropolis
138 m
Chair of Saint Peter
149 m
Mater Ecclesiae Monastery
148 m
Paul VI Audience Hall
347 m
Vatican Grotto
147 m
Sphere Within Sphere
290 m
Cortile del Belvedere
174 m
Bramante staircases
349 m
Vatican Railway
309 m
Leonine City
573 m
Borgia Apartment
180 mReviews
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