50 Things You Didn’t Know About The Vatican

50 Things You Didn’t Know About The Vatican

The Vatican City, home to the Pope and the Catholic Church, is a place shrouded in mystery and intrigue. While it might seem like we know a lot about this small city-state, there are actually many things that most people don't know about it. Here are 50 fascinating facts about the Vatican that might surprise you:

1. The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world, with a total area of just 44 hectares (110 acres).

2. The Vatican has its own postal system, with its own unique stamps and postmark.

3. The Vatican is the only country in the world that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

4. The official language of the Vatican is Latin, although Italian is also widely spoken.

5. The Vatican has its own bank, known as the Institute for the Works of Religion.

6. The Swiss Guard, who are responsible for the security of the Vatican, are the world's smallest army.

7. The Vatican Museums are home to one of the world's greatest art collections, including works by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci.

8. The Sistine Chapel, located within the Vatican Museums, is famous for its ceiling painted by Michelangelo.

9. The Vatican Library is one of the oldest and largest libraries in the world, with over 1.1 million printed books and nearly 75,000 Greek, Latin, and Oriental manuscripts.

10. The Vatican is home to the world's tallest obelisk, which stands in St. Peter's Square.

11. The Vatican is one of the few countries in the world that does not have an official railway system.

12. The Vatican has its own newspaper, known as L'Osservatore Romano.

13. The Vatican has its own radio station, called Vatican Radio, which broadcasts in multiple languages around the world.

14. The Vatican has its own flag, which consists of two vertical bands of gold and white, with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara in the center.

15. The Vatican has its own army, known as the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which was founded in 1506.

16. The Vatican has its own national anthem, known as the "Pontifical Anthem."

17. The Vatican has its own currency, known as the Vatican City lira, although it is no longer in circulation.

18. The Vatican has its own heliport, located on the roof of the Paul VI Audience Hall.

19. The Vatican has its own publishing house, known as the Vatican Publishing House.

20. The Vatican has its own pharmacy, which provides medications to Vatican residents and employees.

21. The Vatican has its own newspaper archive, which dates back to the 17th century.

22. The Vatican has its own meteorological station, which provides weather forecasts for the city-state.

23. The Vatican has its own amateur radio station, known as Vatican Amateur Radio Station HV5PUL.

24. The Vatican has its own football team, known as the Vatican City national football team.

25. The Vatican has its own flag day, which is celebrated on June 7th each year.

26. The Vatican has its own telephone system, with its own area code and prefix.

27. The Vatican has its own vigilance service, which is responsible for the security of the city-state.

28. The Vatican has its own judicial system, which is based on canon law.

29. The Vatican has its own diplomatic corps, which maintains diplomatic relations with other countries around the world.

30. The Vatican has its own observatory, known as the Vatican Observatory, which is located in Castel Gandolfo.

31. The Vatican has its own mint, which produces coins and medals for the city-state.

32. The Vatican has its own fire department, which is responsible for fire prevention and suppression within the city-state.

33. The Vatican has its own school, known as the Pontifical North American College.

34. The Vatican has its own radio-television center, which produces programs for Vatican Radio and Vatican Television.

35. The Vatican has its own postal code, which is 00120.

36. The Vatican has its own publishing company, known as LEV (Libreria Editrice Vaticana).

37. The Vatican has its own railway station, which is located just outside the walls of the city-state.

38. The Vatican has its own immigration policy, which is based on the principles of jus sanguinis (right of blood).

39. The Vatican has its own pharmacy, which provides medications to residents and employees of the city-state.

40. The Vatican has its own print shop, which produces documents and publications for the Holy See.

41. The Vatican has its own tourist office, which provides information and assistance to visitors to the city-state.

42. The Vatican has its own Christmas tree, which is erected in St. Peter's Square each year.

43. The Vatican has its own car registration plates, which are white with the letters "SCV" (Stato della Città del Vaticano) and the papal tiara.

44. The Vatican has its own radio-television center, which produces programs for Vatican Radio and Vatican Television.

45. The Vatican has its own art restoration laboratories, which are responsible for the preservation and restoration of works of art within the city-state.

46. The Vatican has its own garden, known as the Vatican Gardens, which cover an area of 23 hectares (57 acres).

47. The Vatican has its own water supply system, which includes wells, cisterns, and aqueducts.

48. The Vatican has its own train station, which is located just outside the city-state and is used by the Pope and other Vatican officials.

49. The Vatican has its own heliport, which is located on the roof of the Paul VI Audience Hall.

50. The Vatican has its own flag, which consists of two vertical bands of gold and white, with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara in the center.

The Vatican is a unique and fascinating place with many interesting facts and features that most people are not aware of. From its own postal system and currency to its own football team and radio station, the Vatican is truly one of a kind. Whether you are a devout Catholic or simply curious about this historic city-state, there is no doubt that the Vatican holds many surprises for those who take the time to explore its rich history and culture.