Located on the hill that bears his name, the Vatican is today the seat of the papacy and the Catholic church. It is a micro-state run by the Vatican City as a temporal entity, and by the Holy See as a spiritual entity. It is landlocked in the city of Rome within walls, since the Lateran Accords of 1929. It is the smallest state in the world with 0.439 km2, and also the least populated with 764 inhabitants in 2023. However, the Vatican also has buildings and grounds outside the city, such as palaces and basilicas. The Pope is the head of both entities, having absolute power (executive, legislative and judicial). This state is therefore an absolute monarchy, of divine and elective right, currently led by Pope Francis, elected on March 13, 2013. It has its own radio, Vatican Radio, which broadcasts in several languages.
Visiting the Vatican? Located on its territory, Saint Peter’s Square and the basilica are freely accessible (under conditions of adequate dress). The huge Vatican Museums occupy part of the Apostolic Palaces are accessible with a ticket.
To enter the city itself (with pharmacy and shops among others), you must have a dedicated pass, owned by residents or workers. One can do the request at Ufficio Permessi di Porta Sant’Anna by presenting a valid identity document. However, you can access the Sainte-Anne church without a pass.
The heart of the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest in the Christian world and was built on the tomb of St. Peter around the year 320. Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Bramante and many other artists contributed to its reconstruction in the 16th century.
The Sistine Chapel, the Cappella Sistina in Italian, is an extraordinary achievement, the main chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. On the one hand it is one of the most famous artistic works in Rome, marked by the greatest work of Michelangelo Buonarroti, which is discovered on the tour in the Vatican ...
Besides that there is the famous Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms, the collections of the Vatican Museums are among the largest in the world. These Papal Palace retain many works, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, objects dating from ancient Egypt to modern times.
The heart of the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest in the Christian world and was built on the tomb of St. Peter around the year 320. Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Bramante and many other artists contributed to its reconstruction in the 16th century.
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