Interesting Facts About Vatican City
1. The Vatican is the smallest country in the world by both area and population.
While other small countries like Monaco and Andorra are surrounded by larger countries, the Vatican City is the only one that is surrounded by another city entirely. It’s a unique situation which is probably one of the most interesting facts about this eminently interesting country!
2. The Vatican Museum has a huge art collection.
Founded in the 16th century by Pope Julius II, the Vatican Museums are home to some of the most exquisite art collections in the world. These include a number of masterpieces from artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael.
3. The Vatican’s library is the largest in the world.
The Vatican’s library houses around 1.1 million texts, including a number of ancient texts that have been in the library since the first century. Its collection is the result of an extensive cataloguing system that was designed by a team of scholars led by Giovanni Battista Ficino.
4. The Vatican has a secret passageway that connects the city with Castel Sant’Angelo.
Fans of Dan Brown’s novel “Angels & Demons” will be familiar with this passageway, which has been used by popes in times of danger. It’s a covered fortified passageway that leads from the heart of the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo and provides an escape route for popes during times of danger.
