The World's Smallest Countries- Vatican City
Vatican City is the center of the catholic world and the headquarters for the Roman Catholic Church. What is unique about Vatican is that it is a sovereign state since 1929, within the city of Rome. It is the smallest country in world with area of 0.44 sq km (0.2 sq miles). Vatican City has about 1000 residents - priests, nuns, guards, and of course the Pope. The Vatican city attracts millions of visitors and worshipers every year. The city state is protected by its own military, the Swiss Guards.
To enter Vatican City you have to go to St. Peter’s Square. This is a monumental elliptical shaped piazza, laid out by Bernini in 1656-1667. It has 284 columns in Doric style which are arranged in 4 rows. 140 statues of saints adorn the piazza. St. Peter’s Square is the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica which is the largest church in the world. At the center of the Piazza San Pietro is an Egyptian obelisk erected in 1586 and 2 identical fountains.
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