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15 Fun Vatican City facts: What is the Vatican known for?
Discover interesting Vatican City facts, from its tiny size to its global influence. Explore history, culture, and secrets of the world’s smallest country.
Vatican City is widely recognized as the headquarters of the Catholic Church, but few people know how this sovereign state functions. It’s small enough to fit inside an 18-hole golf course, but it has its own flag, anthem, and a collection of Vatican City facts that are interesting and eccentric.
From high-speed wine drinking to a lack of birthrights, here are 15 Vatican City facts that keep this tiny enclave in the global spotlight. And if this list inspires you to take a trip, Holafly’s unlimited data travel eSIM can help you stay connected with peace of mind.
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1. You can walk across this entire country in about 20 minutes
Vatican City is situated entirely within Rome, Italy, and is completely landlocked. The border measures just under two miles and is less than 1/6 the size of New York’s Central Park.
To put this into perspective, you could comfortably walk, or even jog, around the country in a very short amount of time. It’s one of the most geographically compact nations and the world’s smallest sovereign state.
2. Home to the first American Pope
Vatican City is known for being the Pope’s main residence and is home to one Pope (at any given time). It’s currently home to the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost). He was born in Chicago, and the first Pope to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas.
3. The name “Vatican” literally means “prophecy”
Long before it was adopted by Christianity, the Vatican Hill was named “Mons Vaticanus” by the ancient Etruscans after their god of prophecy. The Vatican Hill was included within the city walls during Pope Leo IV’s reign, after which it became part of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church.
4. The Vatican is less than 100 years old as a country
While the Church is ancient, Vatican City is an independent country and celebrated its 97th birthday in 2026. It was officially “born” in 1929, when Mussolini and the Pope signed the Lateran Treaty, giving it its sovereignty.
5. Citizenship here is basically a “temporary pass”
Vatican City’s population is about 800, but nobody is actually “from” the Vatican. The Citizenship, Residence and Access Law came into force in 2011 and states you can’t be born into citizenship.
You can only obtain citizenship through appointment to work for the Holy See, such as being a Cardinal or a Guard. If you quit this job or retire, your citizenship is revoked. If you’re a dual national, you revert to single nationality. And if you’re not a citizen of another country, you may be granted Italian citizenship under the Lateran Treaty.
6. It has the world’s shortest and most exclusive national railway
The Vatican’s rail system includes only two 300-meter tracks and a single station, Città Vaticano. It was built under Pope Pius XI; construction began shortly after the 1929 Lateran Treaty and officially opened in 1934. While it’s mostly for freight, the “Pope’s Train” occasionally opens for tourists.
In addition, other modes of public transportation are available for locals, tourists, and visitors. Check out our guide on Rome’s public transport system to navigate as smoothly as possible.
7. The entire country is a UNESCO World Heritage site
Vatican City is the only nation on Earth that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. Every single building, garden, and statue is considered a world-class masterpiece that must be protected at all costs. It’s also one of the most famous places to visit in Rome.
Top tip: If you’re planning to visit all of Rome’s main tourist attractions, get a tourist card for Rome. You’ll be able to skip lines, enjoy free transport, and gain cheaper access to all the main sites.
8. The ATMs speak a “dead” language
One of the most fun facts about Vatican City is that the local bank (IOR) lets you select Latin as your language at the ATM. The late Fr. Reginald Foster advocated for the use of Latin every day and developed a Latin option for Vatican City ATMs.
If you want to check your balance, you can follow the instructions in a language spoken by Julius Caesar. Roughly translated, it says: “Please insert the small card so that you get to know the procedure to be done.”
9. The Pope’s bodyguards wear “vintage” uniforms from the 1500s
The Swiss Guard looks like they’re headed to a costume party in their bright blue, red, and yellow stripes, but they are elite soldiers. They’ve been the Pope’s personal security detail for over 500 years.
10. The art collection is so big that it would take you 4 years to see
The Vatican Museums hold over 70,000 works across 1,400 rooms. If you spent just 60 seconds looking at each piece of art, you wouldn’t finish the tour for about four years. Italy is known for being home to several Renaissance masterpieces in Vatican City, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms.
11. It’s home to a church so big you could fit the Statue of Liberty inside
St. Peter’s Basilica stands 136.5 meters high, meaning the Statue of Liberty could comfortably fit under its dome (without her pedestal). This architectural masterpiece took 120 years to build, and now hosts interactive installations and immersive virtual experiences.
12. The residents drink more wine than anyone else on Earth
Statistically, the Vatican has the highest wine consumption per capita, at 74 liters per year. Between religious ceremonies and a tiny population that loves a good communal dinner, they easily out-sip the French and Italians.
13. It has the world’s most popular post office
Vatican City has its own postal service, “Poste Vaticane.” While mainly used to send postcards with the vintage Vatican stamp, the service is viewed as fast, reliable, and efficient in terms of service and customer support – a slightly different reputation to its Italian counterpart.
14. Living here means living 100% tax-free
There is no income tax, capital gains tax, or VAT in the Vatican. The country pays its bills through museum tickets, Rome souvenir sales, and donations from around the world.
15. The Vatican owns a telescope in America
In 1981, the Vatican acquired the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope for astronomical research. It’s located on Mount Graham in Arizona and is one of the world’s largest telescopes.
Stay connected in Vatican City with Holafly
Vatican City uses the same mobile networks as the rest of Italy, meaning a Holafly eSIM for Italy will keep you covered from Sicily to the Sistine Chapel.
There’s no need for an extra plan. Simply keep using your activated eSIM profile and explore Vatican City’s fun facts, architectural wonders, and artistic masterpieces in person, without worrying about running out of data.
With Holafly, you get:
- Unlimited data the moment you arrive
- Stable coverage throughout Italy
- 24/7 customer support whenever you need help
- Flexible eSIM plans
- Daily hotspot allowance of 1 GB
Holafly even offers a dedicated eSIM for Rome for city breaks that stay within the seven hills of the Eternal City. No swapping SIM cards, no extra fees, and no long-term contracts. Just smooth, reliable data while you take in one of the world’s most iconic destinations.
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If you’re curious about other countries, check out our blogs on:
- Fun facts about Italy
- Fun facts about Greece
- Fun facts about Greenland
- Fun facts about Spain
- Fun facts about Germany
- Fun facts about France
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
