Benvenuti! Welcome to the smallest sovereign state in the world—Vatican City, an independent city-state enclaved within the heart of Rome, Italy. There are around 800 people living here, making it the least populated country on Earth. The official languages are Italian (for the state) and Latin (for the Holy See), though the Swiss Guard speaks German, and you will hear almost every language on Earth spoken by the millions of pilgrims who visit annually.
Vatican City covers just 0.44 square kilometers (about 109 acres). To imagine its size, the entire country is roughly one-eighth the size of Central Park in New York or about the same size as 60 football pitches. It is a walled enclave that you can walk across in about twenty minutes.
The most popular sport is Football, and the state even has its own national team, primarily made up of employees and the Swiss Guard. Their national animal is the Lion, often used as a symbolic heraldic animal in papal coats of arms, representing strength and majesty.
The flag consists of two vertical bands of yellow and white with the crossed Keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara centered in the white band, where the yellow and white represent the gold and silver keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the tiara symbolizes the Pope’s three functions as pastor, teacher, and judge, and the cross represents the crucifixion of Christ.
The food is deeply influenced by the surrounding city of Rome. You must try Pasta alla Carbonara, made with eggs, pecorino cheese, guanciale, and black pepper. Another favorite is Suppli, a fried rice ball filled with mozzarella. Inside the Vatican walls, the diet is typically Mediterranean, with plenty of fresh vegetables, fish, and pasta, often accompanied by Italian coffee.
Vatican City is home to St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest and most famous churches in the world, built over the burial site of Saint Peter. The country features the Vatican Museums, which house one of the most significant art collections in human history, including the Sistine Chapel, where you can look up to see Michelangelo’s legendary ceiling frescoes. You can visit the Vatican Gardens, which cover more than half of the country’s territory and feature beautiful fountains and Renaissance fortifications. For a spectacular view, you can climb the dome of the Basilica to see all of Rome stretching out before you. Interestingly, Vatican City has the highest crime rate per capita in the world—not because the residents are criminals, but because the massive number of tourists in such a tiny area leads to many petty thefts!
From the towering obelisk of St. Peter’s Square to the silent archives of the Vatican Library, Vatican City is a land of immense spiritual and artistic power. Grazie! That means “Thank you!”