I haven't heard of the Vatican, except perhaps some resident of a distant wild settlement in the depths of the jungle. The entire civilized world periodically directs its views to the state of the Vatican, since it is a kind of capital of Catholic Christianity on the planet. The history of this city-state spans many centuries, full of political and religious events.
We chose the Vatican as the topic of our article: where is it located, what is worth knowing about it if we are going on a tourist trip to this special country.
Where is the Vatican located and how to get there?
So, most of us know that the Vatican is a city-state. It is located in Rome - the ancient capital of Italy.
Like every state, the Vatican also has its own borders. However, from Italy they are not so difficult to cross. Various types of public transport run from the center of Rome in the direction we need: fixed-route taxis, metro, taxi services. It will not be difficult to walk to the Vatican, where there are more than a dozen attractions.
For example, Rome's metro line A will take you directly to St. Peter's Basilica in the central square in a short time orto the numerous museums of this tiny country.
An incredibly scenic walking path from Rome to the Vatican, which runs from Piazza Venezia, operates today.
Geographic data and the nature of the territory
Being aware of where the state of the Vatican is located, let's look at the main geographical data about it.
So, the area of the Vatican is only 0.44 square kilometers. The length of the border is 3.2 kilometers (remember that with a measured step a person needs an hour to walk 4 kilometers). The whole territory of this country can be covered on foot in a short time. Especially when you consider the fact that most of it is inaccessible to tourists.
Vatican Gardens are located on a large part of the tiny state. They occupy the slope of a low hill (height difference - 19-75 meters). Not far from the city flows the Tiber, through which you can get to the most beautiful part of Rome - its ancient center.
Outside of the Vatican itself, on the territory of Rome, there are 28 Catholic cathedrals and other attractions. They are also considered the territory of a mini-state located outside its borders.
We are sure that now you can easily find the country of the Vatican on the map. Quickly orienting where the "boot" of Italy is, you will see both its capital and a tiny country marked there.
Vatican: milestones in history
The Vatican, as the center of the worldwide widespread Catholic faith, began to exist, in fact, thanks to the activities of the popes. It was connected, first of all, with the spread of Christianity inworld.
So many people believed in the Christian god that soon there was a need for his earthly vicar. Realizing this, the Romans laid the foundation for a state within a state.
An interesting irony of fate is obtained with the name of the city-country. Ager vaticanus, from which it is derived, means "a place for divination." We see a bright pagan aspect of this combination.
Education and political status
From 326 AD, the country of the Vatican began to exist as a place for the Catholic worship. The burial place of St. Peter, after whom the main cathedral of the country is named, became fundamental. Around him, the modern Vatican has grown.
Only in 1929, Benito Mussolini finally determined the status of the Vatican as a geopolitical entity. Then the city was officially recognized as autonomy.
The functions for which this small state was formed, and the specifics of its formation, lead to non-standard problems. So, birth here is an out of the ordinary event, while death is quite normal. As we understand, the demographic problems of the Vatican are extremely specific.
Tourist Features
Now that we know where the Vatican is located, we consider it interesting to present some of the features of this state.
As for the currency, like in Italy, euros are used here. However, local coins are an interesting souvenir. Recall: euro coins in each country have the same reverse, but the obverse is cast differently. So it is in the Vatican. local metalmoney is the rarest in the eurozone.
Other little things that tourists might like - Vatican postage stamps, albums with sights, tourist maps. Key chains, souvenirs are also ubiquitous here, as in any other holiday area.
If you intend to cash out money at the Vatican ATM, then pay attention: among the languages that the system will offer, you will also see Latin.
Local activities
Tourists who arrived here most often after visiting local attractions go for entertainment in Rome. The Vatican, on the other hand, can offer visitors to contemplate various monumental buildings, stroll through the Gardens, climbing Mario Hill. Luxurious views of Rome and the Vatican will leave vivid impressions in your heart.
To get the most out of the local scenery, tourists would benefit from joining municipal tours.
Conclusion
In our article, we examined one of the few city-states in the world - the Vatican, where the main center of the Christian religion is located. This tiny country contains such a concentration of amazing architectural and other cultural attractions on its territory that it is worth visiting it at least once in a lifetime.
Unforgettable experience is ready to provide us with the Vatican. Where it is located and how to get into it, we also already learned. Make up your mind and you won't regret it!
