Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign state by area and is entirely enclosed within Rome, Italy.
The state covers about 49 hectares, or 0.49 square kilometres. It was established by the Lateran Treaty, signed by the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy on 11 February 1929. The agreement resolved the long-running “Roman Question” concerning the pope’s territorial status after the unification of Italy.
Vatican City is the headquarters of the Catholic Church and the residence of the pope. It includes St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel, but the Holy See is the legal entity that conducts the church’s international diplomacy. Monaco is the world’s second-smallest sovereign state by area, while San Marino is another independent microstate entirely surrounded by Italy.