Surrounded by Rome, the Vatican (officially called the Vatican City State) is the smallest country in the world, covering an area of only 0.44 km². The city-state has a population of just 764 inhabitants. The language used within the Vatican is Italian, but the official language of the Holy See (the entity recognized in international relations) is Latin. The currency used is the euro.

A popular tourist destination (over 5 million tourists visit the Vatican each year), the Vatican City houses invaluable artistic and cultural treasures. At the center of the Vatican is St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, built over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle. In front of it lies St. Peter's Square. Nearby are the Vatican Museums, which constitute one of the most important museum complexes in the world.