Vatican City is a country in Southern Europe, Europe with a rich history, unique culture and some remarkable records. Here are the most interesting facts about Vatican City that most people don't know.
Vatican City is the world's smallest country at just 0.44 km² — you could walk across it in 10 minutes. Yet it contains one of humanity's greatest art collections, including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Raphael's Rooms, and is the spiritual home of 1.3 billion Catholics.
Vatican City is the world's smallest country — just 0.44 km².
The Vatican Museums attract over 6 million visitors per year — one of the world's most visited museums.
Vatican City has its own post office, radio station, newspaper, pharmacy and supermarket.
The Sistine Chapel ceiling took Michelangelo 4 years to paint (1508–1512).
Vatican City is the world's smallest country at just 0.44 km² — you could walk across it in 10 minutes. Yet it contains one of humanity's greatest art collections, including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Raphael's Rooms, and is the spiritual home of 1.3 billion Catholics.
Vatican City is known for several remarkable places that attract visitors and define the country's identity:
Michelangelo's breathtaking ceiling fresco — The Creation of Adam is the world's most reproduced religious painting
The world's largest church — Michelangelo's dome, Bernini's colonnade and the tomb of St Peter
One of the world's greatest museum complexes — 20,000 works spanning 3,000 years of history
Bernini's magnificent elliptical piazza — the gathering point for papal audiences and world events
Vatican City is the world's smallest country at just 0.44 km² — you could walk across it in 10 minutes. Yet it contains one of humanity's greatest art collections, including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and Raphael's Rooms, and is the spiritual home of 1.3 billion Catholics.
The capital of Vatican City is Vatican City.
Vatican City has a population of approximately 800.
The official languages of Vatican City are Italian / Latin.
Vatican City gained independence in 1929.
Vatican City uses the Euro (€).