Vatican City is the smallest country in the world by area and is enclosed within the city of Rome.
Vatican City covers about 49 hectares, or 0.49 square kilometers, and is a landlocked city-state surrounded by Italy. It became independent through the Lateran Treaty, signed by the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy on 11 February 1929. The agreement resolved the long dispute created when Italian forces captured Rome in 1870.
The state is the territorial headquarters of the Holy See and the residence of the pope. Its major landmarks include Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and the Apostolic Palace. The museums contain important works by artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael.
Vatican City has its own institutions, including a gendarmerie, postal service, and Swiss Guard. The Holy See, rather than the state alone, conducts most diplomatic relations and holds permanent observer status at the United Nations. Its tiny territory should not be confused with the worldwide Catholic Church or with the broader administrative entity called the Holy See.