Tiny states attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. One of these is the Vatican. Everyone knows that it houses the residence of the Pope. But you can often hear the question: "Is the Vatican a city or a country?" Albeit a very small one, located inside another city, but the state. It has its own flag, coat of arms and mints its own coin.
General information
What is the smallest state in Europe by area? This is the Vatican. Its area is only 0.44 sq km. It is located inside the capital of Italy, in the city of Rome. It is often believed that the Vatican is part of Italy. But it's not. The Vatican is a sovereign state. It got its name from the name of the hill where the country is located - "Mot Vaticanus", which means "place of divination" in Latin.
The time of foundation - the beginning of the 6th century. The total length of the state border is only 3.2 km. And of course, this dwarf enclave state has only oneneighbor - Italy. The state religion is Catholicism. There are two official languages - Italian and Latin. The Vatican is a theocratic monarchy. Monetary unit - euro. Until 1999, it had its own currency - the Vatican lira.
Geography and population
Vatican City is a miniature state located on the Vatican Hill, in the western part of Rome, on the right bank of the Tiber River. Geographically, they are separated by a stone wall that runs along almost the entire border with the capital of Italy. In fact, this is the seat of the highest governing bodies of the Roman Catholic Church. The population of the Vatican is less than a thousand people. According to official figures - 846 inhabitants. Of which only half (450 people) have the citizenship of this country. The rest have only a residence permit, permanent or temporary.
Vatican citizenship is with the Pope, his closest collaborators, cardinals, Swiss guards. Most citizens of the Vatican permanently live outside of it. These are diplomatic personnel representing the State in other countries.
It is possible to acquire citizenship of the Vatican, lose the right to it, obtain a residence permit thanks to special rules. They were adopted in accordance with the Lateran Accords. You can become a subject of the Vatican only in connection with your position. Citizenship is also lost upon dismissal. Unlike others, the Vatican City is a country that only issues diplomatic passports, which are required for service outside of it. official relationsestablished with many other countries in which the Vatican has its offices. What country in the world can still boast that about half of its citizens have dual citizenship? And the Vatican can!
Government
The city-state is an absolute theocratic monarchy. Legislative, executive and judicial power here belongs to the pope. For his election to the post, it is necessary that 2/3 of the cardinals support the candidacy. If it is not possible to elect a head of state in 30 rounds, another procedure is introduced.
In the event of the death or absence of the Pope, the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church temporarily leads the state and current affairs. The executive power is represented by the Supreme Church Court, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Court, the local tribunal. The protection of order is provided by the pope's guard, consisting of the Swiss guards.
Flag
This state symbol of the Vatican is a square panel. It has two vertical stripes of the same size, yellow and white. On the right side of the flag, on a white background, is the tiara of the Pope, with two crossed keys on it. They symbolize the keys to Paradise and to Rome.
The flag of the Vatican appeared after the signing of the Lateran Accords on February 11, 1929. Then the status of the Holy See and its independence from Italy, where the Vatican is located, was officially fixed.
Coat of arms
Another symbol of the state - the coat of arms - is a heraldic shield, red, Englishforms. It, like the country's flag, features a tiara and two crossed keys.
It is symbolic that the so-called small coat of arms, which is used by diplomatic missions and papal institutions, is also widespread in the Vatican. These are the same crossed keys and tiara, symbolizing the Catholic Church and the throne of the Pope, but not in the shield, and not behind it.
It is interesting that the coat of arms is divided during the transfer of power from the deceased Pope to his successor. An image with a tiara is used to accompany the funeral procession, and the keys go to the cardinal's receiver. Instead of a tiara, his coat of arms has a red and gold canopy. Such a symbol was approved already in the 16th century. Then the golden and silver key, tied with a red cord, was called "allowing" and "knitting". They symbolized the right of the Apostle Peter to resolve all issues of the church and to transfer this right to the heirs.
History
The modern Vatican appeared on the world map in 1929. What was there before this time? A little history of the Vatican Hill.
The ancient Romans did not build anything on these lands, neither cities nor settlements, considering them holy. And during the time of Emperor Claudius, circus games were held here. The beginning of the history of the Vatican is considered to be 326. Then, during the spread of Christianity in Europe, on the site of the alleged burial of the Apostle Peter, the majestic Basilica of Constantine was erected. By the 8th century, numerous settlements were built here, which occupied a significant part of the Apennine Peninsula. These territoriesunited in the state - the Vatican. But in 1870 it came under the rule of the Italian kingdom. And only in 1929, Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Accords, which gave the Vatican sovereignty, and he received a modern device and borders.
Tourism
The Vatican is a tiny corner of the world, but like a magnet it attracts a huge number of believers from all over the planet. There are also lovers of "ticks" - to visit the smallest state in the world.
Vatican is a church country. There are neither workers nor peasants here, because the state does not produce anything, and there is no agriculture in it either. It exists solely thanks to tourists and donations.
The miniature state of Europe is located on the Vatican Hill and consists of papal palaces, gardens, about 30 houses, St. Peter's Cathedral and the square in front of it. But this is what attracts tourists. It is worth noting that there are no hotels in the Vatican, and all visitors live in nearby hotels in the capital of Italy.
Entry into the territory of the dwarf state is possible only through 6 gates that connect Rome with the Vatican. Interestingly, this tiny state is considered the most "criminal" in the whole world. On its small territory there are as many thefts as in the entire multimillion-dollar Rome. For every citizen of the Vatican, there are about 3 offenses. But in fact, they are made by visiting tourists. Even despite the efforts of 700 policemen, the levelcrime is very high.
Attractions
What can surprise and interest travelers in the Vatican?
- Saint Peter's Cathedral. This is the main attraction and the main Catholic church of the whole world. They began to build it back in 324, on the site of the alleged burial place of the Apostle Peter. In the 15th century a great building was built here. This is the heart of the Vatican and the entire Catholic world. The great Raphael and Michelangelo worked on it. Amazing decoration inside the Cathedral. And it can accommodate a huge number of people - 18,000. The square in front of the cathedral has a unique keyhole shape.
- Sistine Chapel. A unique monument of history and architecture. It was built on the site of a dilapidated and sagging chapel for Pope Sixtus IV, hence its name. Externally, the building has a very modest, unremarkable appearance. But inside its decoration is amazing. The chapel gained popularity because of the wall paintings, on which such masters as Botticelli, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo worked. It is here that the meetings of cardinals take place, who, after the death of the current pope, elect a new one.
- Apostolic library. An amazing cultural monument. In addition to the beautiful design of the building, its value is in a huge collection of manuscripts and manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Only a small part of the library is open to tourists.
- Pinacotheque in the Vatican
- Pio Clementino Museum
- Vatican Gardens
- Egyptian Museum
- Raphael's Stanzas.
It turns out that such a small country, the Vatican, is where not only the Catholic Curia is located - cultural, historical and architectural monuments from all over the world are concentrated here. Getting into it, you no longer ask yourself the question: "Is the Vatican a state or not?". A special atmosphere reigns here, which is not found anywhere else in the world.
Finally interesting facts
The location of the Vatican is famous for amazing and unique features at every turn. Here are just a few.
- Cathedral of St. Petra - listed in the Book of Records as the largest Catholic church in the world.
- Vatican citizenship cannot be inherited. It can be earned by labor to the Holy See. After the end of employment, citizenship is canceled.
- Daytime in the Vatican, more than 3 thousand people are people coming to work.
The city-state has its own emblem, flag, constitution, radio station, postal service, daily newspaper "Losservatore romano", own station and railway, 275 m long.
There is 1 school, 1 prison and 1 radio station here. Diplomatic relations have been established with 174 countries, but due to the limited size of their representation in the Vatican, they are located in Italy.
The popes are buried in the dungeon of St. Peter's Basilica.
