Political system: Ecclesiastical state
Capital city: Vatican City
Size: 0.4 km²
Population: 0.0008 million
Currency: euro
In 1929 by the Lateran Treaties negotiated by the Italian leader Benito Mussolini between King Victor Emmanuel III and Pope Pius XI. Under this treaty, the Vatican was recognized as an independent state, with the Pope as its head.
The Vatican City State has its own citizenship, diplomatic corps, flag, and postage stamps.
With a population of less than 1,000, it is by far the smallest sovereign country in the world.
Vatican City is a popular destination for tourists, especially Christians wishing to see the pope or practice their faith.
The main tourist attractions in Vatican City include the Basilica of St. Peter, Saint Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and the Raphael Rooms.
Pilgrims will most often visit Vatican City at special moments in the liturgical year, such as Christmas or Easter, or during important periods such as the proclamation of a holy year or the funeral and election of a pope.
Tourism is the one of the principal sources of revenue in the economy of Vatican City.
The Vatican City is the smallest independent sovereign state in the world with government, statutes and head of state of it’s own.
Although it covers just a few acres of land, it holds within its boundaries the residence of the Pope, the site of St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
Things to see
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Built in 1506 over St. Peter’s tomb remains, Saint Peter’s Basilica is the world largest Basilica.
In 1547 Michelangelo took over and simplified Bramante’s previous plan, increasing the scale.
At his death in 1954, one of Michelangelo’s students, Giacomo della Porta, looked after the erection of the Dome following the master’s design. Magnificent sculptures from Bernini, Michelangelo and many other great “Maestri” can be admired in the Basilica.
In the Basilica you can also visit the Treasury (9am – 6pm, October – March 9am – 5pm); the Vatican Grottoes (1pm – 6pm; October – March 7am – 5pm) and the Dome (8am – 6pm; October – March 8am – 4.30pm)
Opening hours: daily 7am – 7pm.
Transports: Bus 64
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums comprise the papal apartments of the medieval apostolic Palace, frescoed during the Renaissance, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Museums themselves.
The first actual Museums (the Pio-Clementine Museum, the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Chiaramonti Museum and the Inscription Gallery), devoted to classical Greco-Roman statuary, were founded by the popes of the 18th and 19th centuries and later enlarged in the 18th Century, with the construction of new buildings inspired by the Roman Imperial architecture.
In the 19th century three other Museums were created by pope Gregory XVI the Etruscan Museum , which contains 18 rooms of Etruscan artifacts and Greek statuary the Egyptian Museum, cointaining statues brough from Egypt in the imperial age the Tapestry Gallery where tapestries by Raphael’s school can be admired
In the 20th century, the Vatican collection was rearranged in the Pinacoteca, a new building set aside for the purpose.
Later on, in 1973, three other collections were arranged in the same building:
Profane Gregorian Museum, containing classical statuary
Pio-Christian Museum, containing works from the excavation of catacombs
Missionary-Ethnological Museum, housing works from extra-European cultures
Both the Sistine Chapel and the “Raphael’s Rooms” are a 20-30 minute walk from the Museums’ entrance. As they are very crowded you’d better arrive very early in the morning.
Opening hours: Mondays – Fridays 9am – 5pm and Saturdays 9am – 2pm (October – June Mondays – Saturdays 9am – 2pm). Last Sunday of the month 9am – 5pm (October – June 9am – 2pm)
Transports: Bus 64 to Piazza San Pietro; Buses 28, 81, 492 to Piazza del Risorgimento or Metro: Ottaviano
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