Vatican City 101

prestotours | 14 June, 2010 05:39

Here's some Vatican City 101 for curious brains!

The Vatican City, or the Holy See, is the smallest country in the world (both by population and by area).  It has a population of about 900 people (100 and some change of which are it's army, the Swiss Guards), and a land area of about 110 acres.

Although the authority of the Roman Catholic Church have been around for much longer, the Vatican City was only recently granted its sovereignty from Italy in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty.  Part of the agreement was that the Vatican would open it's art and antiquities collection to the public (the Vatican museums)!

The Vatican collections inside the Museums include some of the most famous works of art in the world!  Including works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Bernini. 


The head of the Vatican City is the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.  The Pope lives in the Apostolic Palace, located (and well guarded) within the city walls.  But you can actually go to the famous Bronze doors to get free Papal Audience tickets from the Swiss Guards.

The Popes have lived in the area now known as the Vatican City since 1377.  Before this time (and before living in France during the period from 1305-1377), the Popes lived in the Lateran Palace in an area of Rome closer to the Colosseum.

The official language of the Vatican City is Italian, though the official language for all legal documents is still Latin.  It's rumored there is an ATM inside with Latin as a language option!

There are certain "properties" of the Vatican State which are located outside its city walls, for example Castel Gandolfo, and some major cathedrals like San Giovanni and Santa Maria Maggiore.  In these cases they are actually guarded by Vatican police and not Italian police.

The enormous obelisk in the center of St. Peter's Square came from Heliopolis, Egypt.  It was taken by the emperor Caligula and used to decorate his circus, which used to be in this very spot in the 1st century AD.

  St. Peter's Basilica is built on the spot where it's said that Peter was crucified upside-down.  Excavations underneath the basilica have discovered the remains believed to be St. Peter, dating to the 1st century AD and missing the feet (consistent with the belief that Peter was cut off at the ankles from the cross after crucifixion).


The currency of the Vatican is the Euro.  Just like all other countries in the European Union, the Vatican has a mint and produces its own Euros (Euro coins are distinguishable by the back of them which has a symbol or picture unique to the country of origin).  But if you come across a Vatican Euro, you might think twice about spending it on a gelato, as they are extremely hard to come by.


The Swiss Guards have been officially the army of and guardians to the Pope and the Vatican City since 1506 (though earlier Popes had employed Swiss mercenaries as members of their army before).

Citizenship of the Vatican State is granted to those who are employed and/or invited to reside inside, and spouses or children of people employed inside.  But!  It's temporary for most, as it is revoked as soon as you are no longer employed!  80% of the people with Vatican citizenship are members of the clergy.

Send a postcard from the Vatican, because the Vatican has its own postal system, boasted as being the best postal system in the world!

 Aubrie Talarico

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