Vatican city (Citta del Vaticano), the papal residence, was built over the tomb of Saint Peter. The Vatican's position as a sovereign state within a state was guaranteed by the Lateran Treaty of 1929, marked by the building of a new road, the Via della Conciliazione. This leads from a huge St Peter's basilica to Castel Sant' Angelo, a monument to a far grimmer past.
Inside the Vatican city we can find 11 Vatican Museums with the restored Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Gardens, an enchanted place, a system of large and small gardens, fountain, fish pool and enclosure for rabbits. They date back to medieval times when vineyards and orchards extended to the north of the Apostolic Palace.
Vatican radio station broadcasts all over the world in 29 languages, it has it's television station, the daily newspaper, post office with Vatican stamps, shops, offices and publishing house. All signposted, in highly-sophisticated system of organisation.
More than a thousand residents are responsible for the smooth, day-to-day running of this nerve center of official Christianity, with of course the Pope at its head, all guarded by the Swiss guard.
The Vatican is the smallest state or country in the world, based in Rome in Italy. This tiny nation has an area of only 44 hectares. Its 800 residents could fit comfortably into a large apartment building in New York City. The Vatican serves as the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church and is surrounded by the city of Rome. The Pope, presently Francis, presides over Vatican City--and the world's largest body of Christians.
The Vatican's history goes back almost 2,000 years. In A.D. 64, Roman Emperor Nero had many Christians put to death on Rome's Vatican Hill. Stories tell us that one of those martyrs was Peter, an apostle of Jesus. The Catholic religion says the Pope is Peter's successor as head of the church.
Persecution continued now and again for about two centuries. Then, in 313, Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius allowed Christianity. Constantine, the first emperor to convert to Christianity, built the original St. Peter's Basilica. It is thought to be on the site of Peter's tomb.
Mini-state
Although Italy's history goes back many centuries, it was not united as one nation until 1870. Before then, the Catholic Church had ruled the Papal States for more than 1,000 years. But in the 1860's, the Italian army conquered the Papal States and it took control of Rome in 1870. For the next 60 years, Italy and the Vatican were enemies. This ended in 1929, when Italy and the Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty. Under the treaty, Italy recognized Vatican City as an independent nation and the Pope as its ruler.
Because it is such a small country, however, Vatican City shares government functions with Rome and Italy. Vatican City has its own coins, for example, but they are produced in Rome. It has its own police force, but depends on the Italian Army for its defense. There is a small prison but nobody knows if it has ever been used.
Residents of Vatican City include the Pope and his staff; a few Cardinals, who are the Church's highest-ranking officials; and the Swiss Guard, a group of soldiers that has guarded the Pope since 1506.
The Pope oversees the Church's 3,000 dioceses around the world. He appears in public twice a week to deliver blessings and often says Mass.
However, his life is not all work. Pope John XXIII (1958-63) had a bowling alley built at the Vatican. And Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), an enthusiastic sportsman, loved to swim and ski.
The few children who live in Vatican City go to school in Rome. But there is a boarding school for the altar boys who serve at Vatican Masses.
Tourists and Pilgrims
Each year, about 4 million people--both religious pilgrims and tourists—visit Vatican City. Most tourists come to see the art, especially the frescoes painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A great Renaissance artist, Michelangelo spent four years completing the frescoes.
In addition to its art, the Vatican holds great archives including a 1,500-year-old Bible manuscript. Love letters from English King Henry VIII to his second wife, Anne Boleyn, are also in the collection. The King's wish to divorce his first wife made him to split from the Catholic Church and create the Church of England.
St. Peter's Basilica
The museums and St. Peter's Basilica are open to the public. But the rest of Vatican City is not. You are only allowed in if you have an appointment to meet church officials or study in the archives.