Overlooking Rome's historic center is the Vatican, the world's smallest sovereign state. It boasts some of Italy's most famous artworks, many housed in the massive Vatican Museums (home of the Sistine Chapel), as well as a slew of fine eateries and souvenir stores and the famed St Peter's Basilica. Most pilgrims flock to the Vatican during significant times of the liturgical year, such as Christmas or Easter.
The Vatican City State is an independent city-state located within Rome in Italy. The Vatican is governed by the Holy See, and is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the Pope.
It is the smallest state in the world. It became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty. One of the most important sources of money for the Vatican's economy is tourism. The Vatican Museums and the St. Peter's Basilica are extremely popular tourist attractions. The Vatican Museums alone attracted 4.3 million people in 2007.
- Official Name : State of the Vatican City, Italian Stato della Città del Vaticano (Italian)
- Type of Government : Papacy
- Population : 825
- Area : 0.44 sq km
- Language : Italian
- Currency : Euro (€)
- Explore the architectural style of Vatican City. Largely constructed in the Renaissance style, you will also find examples of Baroque and Late Renaissance architecture.
- The Vatican museums span 1400 rooms and house relics and works of art dating back over 3000 years.
- Visit St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world.
- Explore the Vatican gardens that occupy half of the Vatican City. It includes fountains, a cactus garden, and historical buildings.
The Lateran Treaty, signed on February 11, 1929, established the modern city-state of Vatican City, which was named after Vatican Hill, the state's geopolitical setting. The name "Vatican" comes from an Etruscan settlement called Vatica or Vaticum, which was located in the broad area known to the Romans as Ager Vaticanus, or "Vatican territory".