{"id":36631,"date":"2025-08-23T14:32:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T12:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rome-roma.net\/vatican-city\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T14:38:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T12:38:25","slug":"vatican-city","status":"publish","type":"site","link":"https:\/\/www.rome-roma.net\/en\/vatican-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican City"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vatican

Vatican Flag<\/p><\/div>\n

The Vatican City<\/strong> is an independent state under the sovereignty of the Holy See through the authority of the Pope of the Catholic Church<\/strong>, who rules as an absolute monarch.
It is a recognized state but not a member of the UN, where it holds observer status. The official creation of this state dates back to February 11, 1929, with the signing of the Lateran Treaty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Overview of Vatican City<\/h2>\n

With an area of only 0.44 km\u00b2, enclosed within the city of Rome, the Vatican (the State of Vatican City, or Citt\u00e0 del Vaticano to be precise) is the smallest independent state in the world, both in terms of area and population, with 824 inhabitants in 2008.
However, the territories owned by the Holy See\u2014without its sovereignty\u2014are much larger, over 10 km\u00b2 (five times the size of the Principality of Monaco), including many extraterritorial zones.<\/p>\n

The main language is Italian, not Latin, which remains the legal language of the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican. French is used as the diplomatic language, with the Vatican registered as a French-speaking state in international organizations. The official language of the Vatican’s army, the Swiss Guard, is German.<\/p>\n

Visiting the Vatican: a Concentration of Art, History, and Spirituality<\/h2>\n

The Vatican is a concentrated hub of history, art, and spirituality. Located in the heart of Rome, it houses invaluable treasures such as the Vatican Museums<\/strong>, the Sistine Chapel<\/strong>, the St. Peter’s Basilica<\/strong>, and its famous gardens<\/strong>. A full visit can last between 6 and 8 hours, or even a full day for the most interested visitors. Booking tickets in advance is strongly recommended, particularly to avoid long queues.
Access to the basilica is free, but entry to the museums and the dome is paid. For a more enriching experience, a guided tour is advised, providing detailed explanations and privileged access to certain sites. Night or private tours are also available for a more intimate experience.<\/p>\n

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Things to See and Do in the Vatican<\/h2>\n