Vatican City, nestled within Rome, Italy, is the world's smallest independent state, serving as the spiritual heart of Catholicism, ruled by the Pope as head of the Holy See. Created by the Lateran Treaty in 1929, this tiny nation (about 109 acres) boasts immense cultural significance with treasures like St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Museums, attracting millions to its art, history, and religious sites, all while maintaining its own postal, banking, and security (Swiss Guard) systems.
