About
Vatican City is an independent city-state within Rome with an area of just 44 hectares and a population of about 800 — the smallest country in the world by both area and population. It is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and the residence of the Pope. The Vatican's art collection — including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums — is among the world's greatest.
Vatican City became an independent state in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty with Mussolini's Italy. It has its own postal system, telephone system, radio station, and newspaper. The Swiss Guard has protected the Pope since 1506 — one of the world's oldest military units.
# Top 10 Vatican City facts
- 1Vatican City is the world's smallest country — 44 hectares, smaller than many golf courses
- 2The Swiss Guard has protected the Pope continuously since 1506
- 3The Vatican Museums contain 54 galleries, 20,000+ works of art, and over 7 million objects
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Vatican City is the world's smallest country — 44 hectares, smaller than many golf courses
- ◆The Swiss Guard has protected the Pope continuously since 1506
- ◆The Vatican Museums contain 54 galleries, 20,000+ works of art, and over 7 million objects
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