The Vatican is ... Where is the Vatican?

Tiny states attract the attention of tourists around the world. One such is the Vatican. Everyone knows that it houses the residence of the Pope of Rome. But you can often hear the question: "Is the Vatican a city or a country?" Let them be very small, located inside another city, but the state. It has its own flag, emblem and coins its own coin.

General information

What is the smallest state in Europe? 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 this is not so. The Vatican is a sovereign state. Its name derives from the name of the hill where the country is located - "Mot Vaticanus", which in Latin means "place of fortune telling".

The time of foundation is the beginning of the 6th century. The total length of the state border is only 3.2 km. And of course, this one dwarf-enclave state has only one neighbor - Italy. The state religion is Catholicism. The official languages are two - Italian and Latin. The Vatican is a theocratic monarchy. The monetary unit is the euro. Until 1999, there was its own currency - the Vatican lira.

Geography and population

The Vatican is a miniature state located on the Vatican Hill, in the western part of Rome, on the right bank of the Tiber River. Territorially they are separated by a stone wall, which runs almost along the entire border with the capital of Italy. In fact, this is the seat of the supreme governing bodies of the Roman Catholic Church. The population of the Vatican is less than a thousand people. According to official figures - 846 residents. Of which only half (450 people) possess 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 guardsmen. Most of the citizens of the Vatican are constantly living outside of it. It is the diplomatic staff representing the State in other countries.

To acquire the citizenship of the Vatican, to lose its right to it, you can obtain a residence permit through special regulations. They were adopted in accordance with the Lateran Agreements. Become a Vatican subject only in connection with the position held. In the event of dismissal, citizenship is also lost. Unlike others, the Vatican is a country that issues only diplomatic passports, which are necessary for service beyond its borders. Official relations are established with many other countries, in which it has its Vatican offices. This is what country in the world can still boast that about half of its citizens have dual citizenship? And the Vatican can!

Government structure

The city state is an absolute theocratic monarchy. Legislative, executive and judicial power belongs to the Pope. For his election to the post, it is necessary that 2/3 of the cardinals speak in support of the candidacy. If the head of state can not be chosen for 30 rounds, another procedure is introduced.

In the event of the death or absence of the Pope, he temporarily leads the state and the current affairs of the Chambers of the Holy Roman Church. The executive power is represented by the Supreme Church Court, the Higher Tribunal of the Apostolic Court, the local tribunal. Protection of order is provided by the Pope's guard, consisting of Swiss guardsmen.

Flag

This state symbol of the Vatican is a square cloth. It has two equal vertical stripes, yellow and white. In the right part of the flag, on a white background, there is a tiara of the Pope of Rome, with two crossed keys on it. They symbolize the keys to Paradise and from Rome.

The Vatican flag appeared after the signing of the Lateran agreements on February 11, 1929. Then officially the status of the Holy See and its independence from Italy, where the Vatican is located, was fixed.

Coat of arms

Another symbol of the state - the coat of arms - is a heraldic shield, red color, English form. On it, as well as on the flag of the country, is depicted 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 in the transfer of power from the deceased pope to his receiver, is divided. An image with a tiara is used to accompany a funeral procession, and the keys go to the receiver of the cardinal. Instead of a tiara on his arms, a red-gold canopy. This symbol was approved in the 16th century. Then the gold and silver key, connected by a red cord, was called "permissive" and "astringent". They symbolized the right of the Apostle Peter to solve all the questions of the church and 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 sacred. And in the time of Emperor Claudius, circus games were held here. The beginning of the history of the Vatican is 326 year. Then, during the period of the spread of Christianity in Europe, the majestic basilica of Constantine was erected on the site of the alleged burial of the apostle Peter. By the 8th century numerous settlements had been built here, which occupied a significant part of the Apennine peninsula. These territories have united in the state - the Vatican. But in 1870 it passed under the authority of the Italian kingdom. And only in 1929 Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Agreements, which endowed the Vatican with sovereignty, and it received a modern device and borders.

Tourism

The Vatican is a tiny corner of the world, but it attracts a huge number of believers from all over the world as a magnet. There are also lovers of "ticks" - to visit the smallest state of the world.

The Vatican is a church country. Here there are no workers or peasants, because the state produces nothing, there is no agriculture in it either. There is it exclusively 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 should be noted 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 a dwarf state is possible only through the 6 gates that connect Rome with the Vatican. It is interesting that this tiny state is considered the most "criminal" in the whole world. In his small territory, there are as many thefts as in all of Rome's many millions. 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 crime rate is very high.

sights

What can surprise and interest travelers of the Vatican?

• Saint Paul's Cathedral. This is the main attraction and the main Catholic church of the whole world. Began to erect it in 324, on the site of the alleged burial place of the apostle Peter. In the 15th century. Here built a grandiose structure. This is the heart of the Vatican and the whole Catholic world. Above him worked the great Raphael and Michelangelo. Amazing decoration inside the Cathedral. And it can accommodate a huge number of people - 18 000. The area in front of the cathedral has a unique shape of the keyhole.
• The Sistine Chapel. A unique monument of history and architecture. It was built on the site of a decrepit and sagging chapel for Pope Sixtus IV, hence its name. Outwardly, the building has a very modest, unremarkable appearance. But inside her decoration is amazing. The popularity of the chapel was due to the painting of the walls, over which worked such masters as Botticelli, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo. It is here that the cardinals meet, who after the death of the incumbent pope elect a new one.

• The Apostolic Library. An amazing cultural monument. Besides the most beautiful building design, its value is in a huge collection of manuscripts and manuscripts of the Middle Ages. For tourists, only a small part of the library is open.
• The Pinacoteca in the Vatican
• Museum of Pius-Clementino
• Vatican Gardens
• Egyptian Museum
• Raphael's stanitsa.

It turns out that such a small country of the Vatican is where not only the Catholic Curia is located - cultural, historical and architectural monuments of the whole world are concentrated here. Getting into it, you do not ask the question: "Is the Vatican a state or not?". There is a special atmosphere that is not found anywhere else in the world.

Interesting facts at last

The place where the Vatican is located, is remarkable for its amazing and unique features at every step. Here are just some of them.

1. Cathedral of St. Petra - is listed in the Book of Records as the largest Catholic temple in the world.
2. Vatican citizenship can not be inherited. It can be earned by the Holy See. After the termination of labor activity, the citizenship is canceled.
3. In the daytime in the Vatican more than 3 thousand people are people coming to work.

The city-state has its own coat of arms, flag, constitution, radio station, postal service, daily newspaper "Losservatore romano", own railway station and railway, length 275 m.

There is 1 school, 1 prison and 1 radio station. Established diplomatic relations with 174 countries, but due to the limited size of their representation in the Vatican are located in Italy.

The Roman Pope is buried in the dungeon of St. Peter's Basilica.