Vatican
in Southern Europe
Europe

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Euro - EUR
Spoken languages:
Latin, Italian, French
Local electricity:
230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F, L)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
VA
Internet top level domain:
.va
Country phone prefix:
+379
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Vatican in Southern Europe

Safety Score: 5,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning it is not safe to travel Vatican.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Vatican. Last Update: 2024-03-29 07:25:35

Explore Vatican

Vatican with its capital is located in Europe (Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)). It covers some 1 square kilometers (about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC) with a population of 1,000. Latin, Italian and French are the languages spoken by people in Vatican (consider regional differences). As an interesting fact, Italy is the only bordering country.

Perhaps the Vatican needs no introduction. The center of Catholicism, and encompassing the Vatican City state, as well as the surrounding Roman neighborhoods of the Vaticano, Prati, and Monte Mario, this small slice of the city is packed with more history and artwork than most cities in the world. The two main entrances to Vatican City for tourists are A) the Vatican Museums, accessible from Viale Vaticano on the North side of the city state and B) St. Peter's Basilica, on the Southeast side of the city and accessible from Via della Conciliazione. While guidebooks do their best to provide an aid for viewing the collections inside the Vatican, a guided tour is a far better way to make sure you get the most out of your visit.

Popular Destinations in Vatican

Administrative regions of Vatican

About the country

The topography is urban with low hill. The average density of population is about 2,273 per km². The climate in Vatican can be described as temperate with mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September). Potential natural disasters are occasional earthquakes.

To reach someone Vatican dial +379 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".va". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F, L). The sign for the locally used currency Euro is EUR.

Two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power.

Flag of Vatican

Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.2 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism - the world's largest Christian faith.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 239) 0sq km
Land (World Rank: 237) 0sq km
Comparative about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Landborder
3.4
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 39) 19m
Highest point (World Rank: 224) 78m
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome
Agreement party Ozone Layer Protection
Agreement signed
  • - Air Pollution
  • - Environmental Modification
Hazzards occasional earthquakes
Location
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain
urban; low hill

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 232) 1,000

Economy

Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 218) 4,822
Products
Industries
  • - financial activities
  • - medals
  • - mosaics
  • - postage stamps
  • - printing
  • - production of coins
  • - staff uniforms
  • - worldwide banking

Nation

National symbol
crossed keys beneath a papal tiara
National colours
yellow
Adjective
none
Noun
none
Background
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, sexual misconduct by clergy, international development, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.2 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism - the world's largest Christian faith.
Flag description
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power

Communication

Phone
Assessment 0