The Vatican City
The Vatican City State is situated on the Vatican hill, on the right bank of the Tiber River, within the city of Rome.
Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world in terms of inhabitants and size. It occupies an area of 44 hectares. The borders are represented by its walls and the travertine pavement curve that joins the two wings of the colonnades in St Peter’s Square. Beyond the territory of the State, Vatican jurisdiction also covers some extraterritorial areas within and outside Rome.
The population of Vatican City is about 800 people, of whom over 450 have Vatican citizenship, while the rest have permission to reside there, either temporarily or permanently.
The term Vatican was used in ancient times to identify the marshy area on the right bank of the Tiber River, between the Milvio Bridge and the present Sixtus Bridge.
Vatican City State is governed as an absolute monarchy.
Vatican City mints its own coins and issues its own postage stamps.
Vatican Garden - the great Italian Garden with its box hedges, clipped at regular intervals into rounded shapes and as dictated by Renaissance topiary art without the presence of a single flower.
Saint Peter's Basilica - the Most Visited Basilica in the World and its Artistic Treasures.
The Constantinian basilica disappeared with time. Over 150 years passed from the decision of Nicholas V Parentucelli to enlarge and restore the ancient basilica to the completion of the Renaissance building with the façade.
