13 Interesting Facts About Vatican City for the Curious Traveler

Have you ever thought about visiting Vatican City? Planning a trip to Italy almost always includes a visit to Rome. The city is vast and packed with enough historical sites, museums, and ancient architecture to keep you busy for days. From shopping Via Condotti to tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, there’s a little something to interest every kind of traveler.

The list of things to do in the big city can go on and on but the Vatican may very well be the most historically and religiously significant of them all. One of the interesting things about the Vatican is that it isn’t just a monument of the past. It’s still a city full of movement and life. It is both ancient history and history in the making. Keep reading to learn some interesting facts about Vatican City.

The Past and Present Significance of Vatican City

Vatican City has a long and rich history dating back to ancient times. The famous church, St. Peter’s Basilica, was built upon the tomb of its namesake in the 4th century. The area now known as the Vatican City was once part of the Roman Empire. It is now the location of the papal residence of the Catholic Church. In 1929, Vatican City was officially established as an independent nation by way of the Lateran Treaty. Since then, it has become one of the most important religious sites in the world and a major center of Christianity.

Today, Vatican City is known for being home to important religious sites such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Much like Rome, the City State is a museum in and of itself. No matter where you turn, you see an important piece of history. The Vatican Museums hold collections of ancient works of art that are priceless due to their religious and historical relevance.

In addition to being a major center of Christianity, Vatican City is also a sovereign state with its own currency, stamps, and army. Stopping by the Vatican Post Office to mail a postcard home is a popular tourist activity. For obvious reasons, it is a popular place to spend a morning or afternoon if you are traveling through Rome.

Interesting Facts About Vatican City

Millions of tourists visit Vatican City each year. Some come here due to its religious significance. Others visit to explore historical aspects and wander through the extensive art galleries. Many come simply to lay eyes on one of the most famous works of art in the entire world. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is an astonishing peek into the artist’s talent and is so magnificent it is nearly unbelievable that it even exists. All these things make putting the Vatican on your bucket list of activities in Rome but there are a few facts about Vatican City that make this tiny country even more interesting.

1. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, measuring just 0.44 square kilometers or just over 100 acres. That is roughly 1/8 the size of central park. It is also, in its entirety, a Unesco World Heritage site and the only country in the world that can claim that status.
2. It is located within the city of Rome, Italy, and is governed by the Catholic Church. The Pope is the ruler holding full legislative, executive, and judicial authority.
3. Vatican City became recognized as an independent nation in 1929 following the Lateran Pact. This, essentially, was an agreement between the Holy See and the Italian government granting sovereignty to Vatican City. The history of that deal is kind of interesting and you can read more about it here.
4. Vatican City is a sovereign state with its own army. Kind of. The Vatican doesn’t technically have its own armed forces. However, they do have a de facto military. The Swiss Guard is an armed force provided by the Holy See to secure Vatican City and protect the Pope.
5. Vatican City has its own postal system and issues its own stamps. For a truly authentic souvenir, mail yourself a postcard while you are there.
6. Vatican City has its own newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. The daily publication primarily reports on the activities of the Pope and the Holy See and political developments. The editorial-driven newspaper is often leaned on as a source of insight into the perspective of the Vatican on various topics.
7. The population of Vatican City as of January 2022 is just 805 people. The majority of residents are Catholic clergymen, but there are also a number of lay workers who live and work in the Vatican City.
8. Citizenship is not granted by birth and can only be obtained by a select group of people. To obtain citizenship you must either be a cardinal, a diplomat of the Holy See, or an employee of the Vatican. Immediate family members living together are also included. Once you are no longer in such a position, citizenship is immediately revoked.
9. Vatican City has never gone to war. However, the country was bombed during WW2. It is widely believed this was done by Fascists to destroy the Vatican Radio suspected of sending valuable messages to the Allies.
10. There is no taxation with the Vatican. Revenue is earned through admission fees, gift shop sales, donations, etc. Imports and exports to the nation-state are without restriction.
11. The nation with the highest crime rate in the entire world is, you guessed it, Vatican City. Don’t let that stop you from entering the city walls. The population, which is just over 800, drives up the per capita rate. The crimes are primarily petty theft. Pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are typical of high tourist traffic areas, especially in Italy. The number of visitors to the Vatican makes it a treasure trove for thieves. If you stay alert and take proper steps to protect your belongings, you don’t have much to worry about. For starters, pack a money belt.
12. Vatican City is an absolute monarchy. There are only a few countries in the world that operate with an absolute monarchy. More interestingly, the Vatican is the only absolute monarchy in which the monarch is elected rather than granted the position through birth. Once elected, the Pope is the reigning monarch until death or resignation.
13. The Vatican is a pioneer of astronomical research. In fact, the Specola Vaticano (Vatican Observatory) is one of the oldest active institutions in the world. Its history dates back to 1582 during the reign of Pope Gregory XIII. In addition to the headquarters in Italy, the Observatory operates a second research center in the United States. The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, aka VATT, is located on Mount Graham just outside Tuscon, Arizona.

Planning a Visit to The Vatican

Planning a visit to Vatican City isn’t hard but there are a few things that are important to know if you don’t want to spoil your day. Before you go, know what you can and can’t take, what to wear, and when to go so you have the best experience.

Wear the Right Clothes

The Vatican has a dress code and they do enforce it. If you don’t want to be turned away, be sure you have dressed accordingly. To enter the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, your knees and shoulders cannot be exposed. This applies to men and women. Pants, skirts, or shorts extending below the knee, and maxi dresses are all appropriate options. Men will also need to remove their hats. Women can continue wearing theirs throughout the visit.

If you must wear shorts, be sure to carry along an oversized scarf or sarong that you can tie around your waist to cover your knees during your visit. This also means you are not allowed in if you are wearing a tank top or sleeveless top. Low-cut tops are also a no-no. Again, if you decide to wear one of these types of tops anyway, be sure to have a scarf or a shirt to pull over. If you don’t pack a shawl to cover yourself, you’ll be offered one for purchase or turned away. You can also purchase a long, silly-looking plastic cloak that you can toss in the trash at the end of your visit.

Arrive Early

To avoid the largest crowds, plan to begin your visit to Vatican City in the morning. There will still be a lot of people but, for the most part, you can avoid the worst of it. Visiting in the morning is especially beneficial during the sizzling summer months. Lines to get into the Vatican Museums often begin forming as early as 7:30 am and can extend for three hours or more during the busiest times. The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums. So, if the Sistine Chapel is on your Italian bucket list, you will have to go through the museums to see it. Unfortunately, you can’t visit the Chapel separately.

The key to visiting on your own is to have a plan. If you aren’t interested in the museums or the Sistine Chapel or if those activities are less important to you than visiting St. Peter’s Basilica; you may want to reverse the order of your visit. St. Peter’s Basilica opens at 7:00 am and this is typically when you will find the shortest line. Plus, if you go early, you can avoid standing in line during the hottest part of the day. If you can’t or don’t want to go in the morning, you can try going just after lunch. This is about the time that morning tours are finishing and guides are taking time for lunch.

Skip the Line

Truly, the best and most efficient way that you can visit is to book an early Vatican City tour with skip-the-line access. Having a tour guide to such an expansive site gives you the added benefit of having someone able to explain what you are looking at and provide little bits of historical information you may not otherwise get. Certain tours also give you access to the museum earlier than it opens to the public. This gives you a head start on the massive crowds that are waiting to enter. That alone is worth the extra expense.

St. Peter’s Basilica is free to enter since it is a church. However, if you book a tour that has St. Peter’s Basilica added, you will be able to enter through a portal only available to tour guides. You also won’t have to wait in the excruciatingly long line. Even if you don’t see the value of that right now, you most definitely will when you arrive. The Basilica is usually the last stop on a tour so when your guide finishes, you will be free to continue exploring St. Peter’s on your own.