{"id":21292,"date":"2024-06-05T04:30:57","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T03:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=21292"},"modified":"2026-05-22T17:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T16:48:43","slug":"facts-about-vatican-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city","title":{"rendered":"10 Fascinating Facts About Vatican City: The World&#8217;s Smallest State"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Which is the<\/strong> <strong>most mysterious country on the planet?<\/strong> Here are some clues; 1. It has a population of less than 100 people. 2. It is a place where you don\u2019t need a passport or visa to enter. 3. This nation hires soldiers from another country to protect it, and 4. the head of state leads the country until he (and it\u2019s always a <i>he<\/i>) dies.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your answer is the Vatican, then well done, you would be right! And i<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">f you\u2019re looking for more fascinating <strong data-start=\"34\" data-end=\"62\">facts about Vatican City<\/strong>, you\u2019ve come to the right place!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_16243\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16243\" class=\"wp-image-16243\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Vatican.jpg\" alt=\"Vatican: Bernini's Colonnade\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-16243\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The architecture in the Vatican city is fascinating, with a multitude of features to discover<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#Foundation_Facts_About_Vatican_City\" >Foundation Facts About Vatican City<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#How_big_is_Vatican_City\" >How big is Vatican City?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#How_old_is_Vatican_City\" >How old is Vatican City?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#Is_Vatican_City_its_own_country\" >Is Vatican City its own country?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#10_Mind-blowing_Facts_about_Vatican_City\" >10 Mind-blowing Facts about Vatican City<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#1_Vatican_City_is_younger_than_your_grandparents\" >1. Vatican City is younger than your grandparents<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#2_Mussolini_helped_create_modern_Vatican_City\" >2. Mussolini helped create modern Vatican City<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#3_The_Vatican_has_its_own_everything_even_a_prison\" >3. The Vatican has its own everything, even a prison<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#4_Its_library_holds_one_of_the_worlds_oldest_Bibles\" >4. Its library holds one of the world\u2019s oldest Bibles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#5_St_Peters_Basilica_sits_on_top_of_a_cemetery\" >5. St. Peter\u2019s Basilica sits on top of a cemetery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#6_There_was_an_older_St_Peters_Basilica\" >6. There was an older St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#7_St_Peters_Basilica_was_built_by_a_Renaissance_dream_team\" >7. St. Peter\u2019s Basilica was built by a Renaissance dream team<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#8_Michelangelo_didnt_just_paint_the_ceiling\" >8. Michelangelo didn\u2019t just paint the ceiling<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#9_Berninis_Embrace_The_Genius_Behind_St_Peters_Square\" >9. Bernini\u2019s Embrace: The Genius Behind St. Peter\u2019s Square<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\/#10_Vatican_City_leads_the_world_in_two_odd_categories\" >10. Vatican City leads the world in two odd categories<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 data-section-id=\"171men1\" data-start=\"221\" data-end=\"284\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Foundation_Facts_About_Vatican_City\"><\/span>Foundation Facts About <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Vatican City<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"286\" data-end=\"497\">Before we dive into the Vatican\u2019s strangest secrets and most surprising stories, it helps to start with the basics. Here are some essential facts about the world\u2019s most fascinating country.<\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"ah0fb2\" data-start=\"499\" data-end=\"527\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_big_is_Vatican_City\"><\/span>How big is Vatican City?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"529\" data-end=\"892\">At just <strong data-start=\"537\" data-end=\"564\">121 acres (49 hectares)<\/strong>, Vatican City is the <strong data-start=\"586\" data-end=\"619\">smallest country in the world<\/strong>. Completely surrounded by <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Rome<\/span><\/span>, it\u2019s so compact you could walk across it in under an hour. To put that in perspective, it\u2019s about one-eighth the size of <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Central Park, <\/span><\/span>yet it attracts millions of visitors every year.<\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"lci0dx\" data-start=\"894\" data-end=\"922\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_old_is_Vatican_City\"><\/span>How old is Vatican City?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"1203\">While the Catholic Church has been headquartered in Rome for nearly <strong data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1007\">2,000 years<\/strong>, Vatican City itself is surprisingly young. It officially became an independent state in <strong data-start=\"1097\" data-end=\"1105\">1929<\/strong>, following the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Lateran Treaty<\/span><\/span>, which formally established its sovereignty.<\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1pf1qpe\" data-start=\"1691\" data-end=\"1727\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Vatican_City_its_own_country\"><\/span>Is Vatican City its own country?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1729\" data-end=\"2018\">Yes, it is a <strong>fully sovereign nation, complete with its own borders, laws, and government.<\/strong> Despite being located in the middle of Rome, Vatican City operates independently from <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Italy<\/span><\/span> and is recognized internationally as the world\u2019s smallest independent state.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20849\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20849\" class=\"wp-image-20849 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican_necropolis.jpg\" alt=\"A small window cut into greenery that gives an amazing view of the Vatican Necropolis.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican_necropolis.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/vatican_necropolis-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20849\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Underneath the massive St. Peter\u2019s Basilica lies the Vatican Necropolis. Photo credit: Benjamin Fay<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Books have been written, films made, and endless theories debated in an attempt to understand <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Vatican City, <\/span><\/span>yet somehow this tiny nation only becomes more mysterious the more you learn about it. It is\u00a0packed with secrets, strange traditions, and fascinating stories. Here are <strong data-start=\"559\" data-end=\"603\">10 mind-blowing facts about Vatican City<\/strong> that most visitors never discover.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Mind-blowing_Facts_about_Vatican_City\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 Mind-blowing Facts about Vatican City<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"j967an\" data-start=\"684\" data-end=\"736\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Vatican_City_is_younger_than_your_grandparents\"><\/span>1. Vatican City is younger than your grandparents<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"737\" data-end=\"862\">Though the papacy has shaped Rome, and much of the Catholic world, for nearly two millennia, <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Vatican City<\/span><\/span> itself is surprisingly young: it is less than 100 years old &#8211; as we mentioned above<strong> it officially became an independent state in 1929.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"737\" data-end=\"862\">This was following the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Lateran Treaty<\/span><\/span>, which ended a long political dispute between the papacy and the Italian state. Before that, popes ruled the expansive <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Papal States<\/span><\/span> for nearly 1,000 years.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"737\" data-end=\"862\">Today, <strong>the pope<\/strong> (also known as the Supreme Pontiff or Roman Pontiff) is both the bishop of Rome and the spiritual leader of more than a billion Catholics worldwide. His office, known as the papacy, governs the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Holy See<\/span><\/span>, the sovereign entity that gives Vatican City its unique status on the world stage. While modern popes no longer wield territorial power as they once did, their influence remains vast &#8211; shaping global diplomacy, culture, and faith far beyond the walls of the Vatican.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25331\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25331\" class=\"wp-image-25331 size-full\" style=\"font-size: 16px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica (@Vatican Media)\" width=\"1280\" height=\"844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.1500.844-768x506.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica (@Vatican Media)<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1t1qo5j\" data-start=\"1616\" data-end=\"1665\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Mussolini_helped_create_modern_Vatican_City\"><\/span>2. Mussolini helped create modern Vatican City<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1666\" data-end=\"1677\">Yes, really. The Vatican as we know it today was born through a deal between <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Benito Mussolini<\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Pope Pius XI<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0As part of the agreement, Mussolini bulldozed a medieval neighborhood to create the grand boulevard <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Via della Conciliazione, <\/span><\/span>the dramatic approach to <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/span>\u00a0you walk down today.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The micronation known as Vatican City was born out of a treaty. In 1929, after much fighting (and passive-aggressive street naming practices), Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini came to an agreement. <strong>The Lateran Treaty recognizes the existence of the Italian state and the Vatican.<\/strong> And this micronation was born.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21319\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21319\" class=\"wp-image-21319 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Via-della-Conciliazione.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Via-della-Conciliazione.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Via-della-Conciliazione-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21319\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Via della Conciliazione is one of the most dramatic approaches to one of the most impressive sites. Photo credit: Jorge Franganillo<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1ngxs0n\" data-start=\"2053\" data-end=\"2107\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_The_Vatican_has_its_own_everything_even_a_prison\"><\/span>3. The Vatican has its own everything, even a prison<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2108\" data-end=\"2138\">Tiny country, full government.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2140\" data-end=\"2156\">The Vatican has its own&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2329\">\n<li data-section-id=\"1ftgpde\" data-start=\"2157\" data-end=\"2215\">army, in the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/why-does-the-vatican-have-swiss-guards\">the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Pontifical Swiss Guard<\/span><\/span><\/a>)<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"8p1dna\" data-start=\"2216\" data-end=\"2230\">bank and currency, with ATM\u00b4s in Italian, English and Latin*<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"kh5wnc\" data-start=\"2231\" data-end=\"2252\">post office and postal service<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"nssfql\" data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2271\">pharmacy<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"wx98dm\" data-start=\"2272\" data-end=\"2295\">train station<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"wx98dm\" data-start=\"2272\" data-end=\"2295\">publishing house<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"wx98dm\" data-start=\"2272\" data-end=\"2295\">electrical generating plant<\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"zdua4p\" data-start=\"2296\" data-end=\"2329\">and yes\u2026 its own jail\u00a0 &#8211; with 2 prison cells<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2331\" data-end=\"2357\">Not bad for 800 residents.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"2331\" data-end=\"2357\"><strong>*Insider tip: <\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want some <i>sanctus pecunia<\/i>, or holy money, wait until you get to Vatican City to take some cash from the ATM.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you use an ATM or cash machine in Vatican City, you\u2019ll have the option to conduct the transaction in Italian, English and \u2026 Latin. But, only agree to the Latin option if you can actually understand<\/span> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inserito scidulam quaeso <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when it pops up on the machine in front of you!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_25318\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25318\" class=\"wp-image-25318 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/csm_09718_06052017_18fd65c7a1.jpg\" alt=\"the swiss guard - one of the fascinating facts about Vatican city is that the swiss guard are their army\" width=\"1920\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/csm_09718_06052017_18fd65c7a1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/csm_09718_06052017_18fd65c7a1-768x307.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/csm_09718_06052017_18fd65c7a1-1536x614.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25318\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo credit: www.schweizergarde.ch<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"gg98rd\" data-start=\"2364\" data-end=\"2420\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Its_library_holds_one_of_the_worlds_oldest_Bibles\"><\/span>4. Its library holds one of the world\u2019s oldest Bibles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2421\" data-end=\"2526\">The <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Vatican Apostolic Library, founded in 1471, <\/span><\/span>contains <strong data-start=\"2474\" data-end=\"2496\">75,000 manuscripts<\/strong> and over <strong data-start=\"2506\" data-end=\"2525\">1 million books<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2528\" data-end=\"2662\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of the <strong>Vatican library<\/strong>\u2019s most priceless works were lost to Spanish and German invaders during the infamous 1527 Sack of Rome. <\/span>Its crown jewel? The <strong data-start=\"2549\" data-end=\"2568\">Codex Vaticanus<\/strong>, one of the oldest surviving handwritten copies of the Bible, dating back to the 4th century.\u00a0That\u2019s older than most countries.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21301\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21301\" class=\"wp-image-21301 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vatican-library.jpg\" alt=\"a large room with vaulted ceilings and various columns, all very ornately decorated\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vatican-library.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vatican-library-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Not many people visit the Vatican&#8217;s library, but it&#8217;s definitely worth a stop. Photo credit: candiche<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1g1e525\" data-start=\"2704\" data-end=\"2756\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_St_Peters_Basilica_sits_on_top_of_a_cemetery\"><\/span>5. St. Peter\u2019s Basilica sits on top of a cemetery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2757\" data-end=\"2814\">Long before the basilica, this was a Roman burial ground.\u00a0Today, beneath <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/st-peters-basilica\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica<\/span><\/span><\/a> lies an ancient necropolis, complete with Roman streets, mausoleums, and what many believe are the remains of <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Saint Peter<\/span><\/span> himself. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tombs are still there. And the Vatican allows visitors to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stroll around millennia-old streets lined with millenia-old mausoleums. <\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2757\" data-end=\"2814\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to experience this hidden underground world yourself, you can <span class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/st-peters-basilica-tour-dome-crypts\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tour the crypts of St Peter&#8217;s Basilica<\/a><\/span> and explore one of the Vatican\u2019s most fascinating and least-visited sites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2816\" data-end=\"3028\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The highlight, especially if you\u2019re a Catholic, is a peek at the supposed bones of St. Peter resting in his (well-lit) tomb.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>One curious addendum:<\/strong> In 1942, St. Peter\u2019s bones were discovered by archaeologists and then promptly lost. They were rediscovered (in a cardboard box stashed away in a back Vatican office) and a decade later placed back in the spot where they were originally found.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_21304\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21304\" class=\"wp-image-21304 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Vatican-Necropolis3.jpg\" alt=\"large dark room with various ancient tomb stones lined up\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Vatican-Necropolis3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Vatican-Necropolis3-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21304\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">For those looking for the creepier side of the Vatican, head on down to the <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ancient necropolis. <\/span>Photo credit: Egisto Sani<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"atn0tf\" data-start=\"3058\" data-end=\"3103\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_There_was_an_older_St_Peters_Basilica\"><\/span>6. There was an older St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3104\" data-end=\"3149\">The current basilica is actually version two.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3151\" data-end=\"3373\">The original <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Old St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica<\/span><\/span> was built by <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Constantine the Great<\/span><\/span> in the 4th century and stood for over 1,000 years before being demolished to make way for today\u2019s giant masterpiece.\u00a0Talk about a renovation.<\/p>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1byxq8r\" data-start=\"3406\" data-end=\"3470\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_St_Peters_Basilica_was_built_by_a_Renaissance_dream_team\"><\/span>7. St. Peter\u2019s Basilica was built by a Renaissance dream team<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3805\" data-end=\"3872\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An all-star team of legendary Renaissance and Baroque architects and artists gave a hand in building the \u201cnew\u201d St. Peters, including Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. \u00a0The result? One of the most extraordinary churches on earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3805\" data-end=\"3872\">Interior highlights that can\u2019t be missed are the Sistine Chapel ceiling, located inside the <span class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican Museums<\/a><\/span> and painted by Michelangelo, and Bernini\u2019s monumental \u201cBaldacchino,\u201d a 100-foot tall canopy that serves as the focal point of the church.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"3805\" data-end=\"3872\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Insider information:<\/strong> Much of the marble used to build St. Peter\u2019s was filched from the Colosseum. Pope Nicholas II had 2,500 wagon loads of marble brought over from the ancient stadium. And to make the Baldacchino, Bernini had much of the roof of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-roman-pantheon\">Pantheon<\/a> stripped of its bronze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_17237\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17237\" class=\"wp-image-17237 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0024-1.jpg\" alt=\"Inside St. Peter's Basilica\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17237\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inside St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica, you can see the <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBaldacchino,\u201d canopy at the end of the central aisle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1x3rgk0\" data-start=\"3756\" data-end=\"3804\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Michelangelo_didnt_just_paint_the_ceiling\"><\/span>8. Michelangelo didn\u2019t just paint the ceiling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, Michelangelo was asked to paint something simple on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-sistine-chapel-in-the-vatican-museums\">ceiling of the Sistine Chapel<\/a>. But the famed artist, who at this time was much more well known as an architect, decided to challenge himself. The result is the most famous fresco in the world. It took the great artist four and a half years standing on a 60-foot-high scaffolding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3805\" data-end=\"3872\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not many people realise that it was toward the end of Michelangelo&#8217;s life when he returned to paint the \u201cLast Judgment\u201d on the far wall. If you look closely, you can see how the painting style of the day had changed: from the harmonious Renaissance style on the ceiling to the more chaotic and ornate mannerism on the back wall. <strong>The image of St. Bartholomew holding his own skin is actually a self-portrait of Michelangelo.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21029\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21029\" class=\"wp-image-21029 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sistine-chapel.jpg\" alt=\"Ornate fresco painted on the ceiling with various scenes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sistine-chapel.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sistine-chapel-768x614.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21029\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sistine Chapel ceiling is often the highlight of most Vatican visitors<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Berninis_Embrace_The_Genius_Behind_St_Peters_Square\"><\/span>9. Bernini\u2019s Embrace: The Genius Behind St. Peter\u2019s Square<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. Peter\u2019s Square is one of the most dramatic public spaces in the world. And most of the thanks goes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/things-to-see-in-rome-bernini\">Bernini<\/a>, who designed the two dramatic \u201carms\u201d that hug the circumference of the oval-shaped space. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In all, there are 284 columns supporting the two colonnades and 140 statues of saints standing atop. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The square is centered by a massive 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk, which took 800 people to erect in the late 16<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17347\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17347\" class=\"wp-image-17347 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walks_Vatican-Highlights-WEB-0009.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of St. Peter\u2019s Square in Vatican City, showing the oval plaza framed by sweeping colonnades, the central obelisk, and the surrounding city of Rome stretching into the distance under a hazy sky.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-17347\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">St. Peter\u2019s Square from above, where Bernini\u2019s grand colonnades embrace the heart of Vatican City against the vast backdrop of Rome.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 data-section-id=\"11wo3ul\" data-start=\"4150\" data-end=\"4207\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Vatican_City_leads_the_world_in_two_odd_categories\"><\/span>10. Vatican City leads the world in two odd categories<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4208\" data-end=\"4272\">Because its population is so tiny, Vatican statistics get weird.\u00a0It consistently ranks among the highest in the world for:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4332\" data-end=\"4411\">\n<li data-section-id=\"uu9yoh\" data-start=\"4332\" data-end=\"4365\"><strong data-start=\"4334\" data-end=\"4365\">wine consumption per capita<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-section-id=\"11hetxz\" data-start=\"4366\" data-end=\"4411\"><strong data-start=\"4368\" data-end=\"4388\">crime per capita<\/strong> (mostly pickpocketing)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"4413\" data-end=\"4478\">So yes, the world\u2019s holiest city may also be its most wine-loving.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22359\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22359\" class=\"wp-image-22359 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pouring-a-glass-of-red-wine.jpg\" alt=\"A person pouring a glass of Chianti from the bottle.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pouring-a-glass-of-red-wine.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pouring-a-glass-of-red-wine-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22359\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A glass of wine is obviously a firm favourite<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re ready to uncover even more of Vatican City\u2019s hidden stories, secrets, and surprising details, the best way is to experience it with an expert by your side.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Join one of our small-group <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican city tours<\/a><\/strong>, led by passionate local guides who bring the history, art, and intrigue of the Vatican to life far beyond what any guidebook can offer.<\/p>\n<p>Prefer a more personalized experience?\u00a0Book a <strong data-start=\"89\" data-end=\"218\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/private-vatican-tour\/\">private Vatican tour<\/a><\/strong> and explore at your own pace, with time to linger over the masterpieces, ask questions, and uncover the hidden corners and fascinating stories most visitors miss.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Whether it\u2019s your first visit or your fifth, there\u2019s always something new to discover behind the Vatican\u2019s walls.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Which is the most mysterious country on the planet? Here are some clues; 1. It has a population of less than 100 people. 2. It is a place where you don\u2019t need a passport or visa to enter. 3. This nation hires soldiers from another country to protect it, and 4. the head of state [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":16716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[248,19,211,247,246],"ppma_author":[181],"class_list":["post-21292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do","tag-rome-tips","tag-vatican","tag-vatican-city","tag-vatican-sites","tag-vatican-travel-tips"],"authors":[{"term_id":181,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"david-farley","display_name":"David Farley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Farley_AuthorPhoto.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Farley_AuthorPhoto.jpg"},"user_url":"","last_name":"Farley","first_name":"David","job_title":"","description":"David Farley is a West Village-based food and travel writer whose work appears regularly in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, and Food &amp; Wine, among other publications. He\u2019s the author of three books, including \u201cAn Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church\u2019s Strangest Relic in Italy\u2019s Oddest Town,\u201d which was made into a documentary by the National Geographic Channel. You can find Farley\u2019s online homes at https:\/\/dfarley.com\/index.html and https:\/\/www.tripout.online\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21292"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21292"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25453,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21292\/revisions\/25453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21292"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=21292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}