The small country of Vatican City has an interesting history and many secrets, that's why it's so interesting to know the whole background of this religious state!

The Vatican is less than a hundred years old

The Vatican is less than a hundred years old. Although it may seem like a very ancient state, the Vatican was actually founded on 11 February 1929 as a result of the Lateran Accords. These agreements were concluded after a long-running confrontation between the Papacy and the movement for the unification of Italy in the mid-nineteenth century. The Lateran Accords not only resolved the so-called Roman Question but also established the Vatican's sovereignty. In a somewhat unrelated note, if you’re looking for exciting ways to boost your online gaming experience, consider exploring offers like Slotozen no deposit bonus codes for a chance to enjoy more gaming perks without an initial deposit.

The unusual name "Vatican City"

The word "Vaticanus" has ancient roots going back to the Etruscan culture. The name is related to the Latin word Vaticanus, which was used to refer to the hill on the right bank of the Tiber River on which the Etruscan city was located in ancient times. Over time, the name was adopted for the area where the Vatican is located today.

The Holy See is headed by the Pope

This is the central leadership of the Catholic Church, headed by the Pope: it represents the spiritual and administrative authority of the church, but the See has no influence on the actions of the Pope as ruler of the Vatican.

The Vatican is a small country

It is the smallest country in the world, covering an area of about 44 hectares, with only 800 inhabitants.

In the second place in the ranking of the "States-Cross", is Monaco, with an area of 208 hectares.

A country within a city

Many small states, such as Monaco, Andorra and San Marino, are completely surrounded by the territory of other countries. However, Vatican City occupies a special position as it is not just surrounded by another country, but is completely inside another city - Rome.

Located in the heart of the Italian capital, the Holy See has a unique geographical and political feature that makes it one of the most interesting states in the world.

Majestic architecture

With over a thousand different rooms, the Vatican Palace complex is made up of many interconnected buildings: they house museums, conference rooms, chapels, living quarters and offices, and the residence of the Pope. In addition, the palaces store many works of art, the length of the expositions of which reaches 15 kilometres!

There are very few women in the Vatican

If in other countries half of the population are women, in Vatican they are only 5%. Mostly men live here.

There is no official language here

Many people may assume that Latin as the language of the Catholic Church is the official language of the Vatican, but in fact there is no official language here. In official and everyday affairs, Italian is spoken, and Swiss-German is the working language for the teams in the Swiss Guard.

Citizenship not by birthright

You can only gain citizenship if you take a job in the Vatican. There are no hospitals and women have to travel to Rome to give birth, so everyone is born an Italian citizen.

The Vatican has its own football team!

The country's team, FC Guardia, is played by the Swiss Guards. There are a total of eight teams in the Vatican, which are not made up of professional athletes, but employees of various institutions.

The most criminal country in the world

Most likely, it is because of the small number of population, but according to statistics, the state is at the top of the list in terms of crime! It's all about tourists, who are robbed on the streets of the Vatican and in shops, serious crimes are quite rare here.

Tombs in St Peter's Basilica

There are over a hundred tombs in the Vatican, of which 91 belong to former popes, including the recently departed John Paul II. Prominent personalities who converted to Catholicism are also buried here: Christina, the former Queen of Sweden, who gave up the throne for her new faith, and James Stewart, Prince of Wales, who was one of the contenders for the British throne.

The Swiss Guard protects the country

To serve in the Guard, you must be a Swiss Catholic trained in the Swiss Armed Forces. The Swiss Guard, formed in 1509, is the oldest military unit in the world that is still active today!

The Pope is elected

He is elected by the College of Cardinals, whereas in other countries with a monarchy, power is hereditary.

The oldest pharmacy

Residents and visitors shop at the "Vatican Pharmacy" because it is much cheaper than pharmacies in Italy! Founded back in the XVII, it is the busiest pharmacy in the world, serving almost 2,000 customers every day.

ATM in Latin

The terminals from the official Vatican bank do have instructions in Latin hanging on them. I wonder if anyone understands what it says? And how did bank instructions get translated into the dead language of the distant past anyway?

Euros at the Vatican

They have notes and coins with images of the Popes that they make at their mint - collectors from all over the world want these for their collections. The Vatican lira was the predecessor of the euro, it stopped being used in 1999.

Short railway

It is 300 metres long, so you can't really enjoy the ride, it is more often used by goods trains. But it is recognised as the shortest railway in the world!

The Vatican is not all in Vatican City

According to the Lateran Accords of 1929, the Basilica of St John Lateran, whose official name is "Archibasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in Lateran", is considered part of Vatican territory. Although this significant church is located 4 kilometres from the borders of the small nation, it is not formally part of Italy and is under the authority of the Pope.

An ancient obelisk in the main square

The obelisk was originally erected in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Amenemhet II. It was later moved to Rome on the orders of Emperor Caligula in 37 AD and placed in Nero's Circus, and it was not until 1586 that Pope Sixtus V ordered the obelisk to be moved to its present location in the centre of St Peter's Square. It is a symbol of eternity and a link to ancient civilisations. A bronze cross containing relics of the Holy Cross was placed on top of the obelisk, emphasising its Christian significance.

St Peter was crucified on the Vatican Hill

St Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ and the first bishop of Rome, according to Church tradition, was arrested and sentenced to crucifixion. Peter asked to be crucified upside down, as he did not consider himself worthy to die like Jesus Christ. The site of his crucifixion is believed to be on Vatican Hill, in the area of the ancient Circus of Nero, near where St Peter's Basilica now stands.

The Pope has an American telescope

The Vatican Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world: it was founded in 1582 on the initiative of Pope Gregory XIII to reform the calendar. In 1981 it established a new facility in Arizona to provide better conditions for astronomical observations, and in 1993 it built the state-of-the-art Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope in conjunction with the University of Arizona.

The Vatican is listed as a UNESCO heritage site

The Vatican is the only sovereign state that is entirely included in this list! It was included there in 1984. This city-state didn't just receive this honour for nothing - it is due to its immense cultural, historical and spiritual significance. Vatican City is the centre of the Catholic Church and the seat of the Pope, there are dozens of outstanding monuments: St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, which store a huge number of works of art and cultural treasures.

A record amount of wine is drunk at the Vatican

Again, this is due to the fact that few people live in the Vatican, and many people drink wine here, including during religious rituals and holidays.

The Pope has not always lived in the Vatican

Originally, the Pope did not live in the various residences in Rome. In the first centuries of Christianity, popes used their homes and church buildings to live and conduct their business.

Popes lived in France during the Avignon captivity from 1309 to 1377 (incidentally, several palaces and administrative buildings were built for the papal court during this period). It was not until the 15th century that the papal residence was finally moved to the Vatican. Vatican Hill became the site of new palaces and administrative buildings, including the Apostolic Palace.

You can see the Pope on Wednesday

Every week the Pope comes to St Peter's Square to give a speech to the citizens and bless them. Anyone can attend this event - just register online, get a free ticket and arrive early. And on Sunday at noon, the Pope addresses those who come from the window of his residence.

Francis (Pope).

The false council of St Peter's.

The cathedral is lower in rank than the basilica that is St Peter's Basilica. It is one of the most majestic and important churches in the world, but it is not the cathedral of Rome - the official one is the Archibasilica of St John Lateran, which houses the pope's cathedra as Bishop of Rome.

The Pope serves as the Bishop of Rome

He has many titles including "Supreme Pontiff," "Primate of Italy," "Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province," but one of the key titles is "Bishop of Rome." As Bishop, the Pope is considered the spiritual leader of the Diocese of Rome, the most important diocese in the Catholic Church.