St. Peter's Basilica dome, a symbol of the Vatican.

Known by various names—city, country, or Holy See—it is in fact a 44-hectare territory officially recognized as an independent state by the Italian government in 1929 after much controversy. It is a country with no birth statistics, and visitors do not need a visa to enter.

Peter's Square, the Vatican's main gateway to the world.

This territory has only peopleWith 840 members in 2013, it has its own leadership system, headed by a governor, its own bank (the Institute for Religious Works), and a renowned security force recruited from Switzerland.

This country sits atop a hill, just outside the northwest gates of ancient Rome, surrounded by a high, fortified wall built in 800 AD, and covered with security cameras.

Swiss Guards at a gate of the Vatican.

The ideal spot to admire the entire Vatican is to climb to the top of St. Peter's Basilica. From there, you can see 61 of the Vatican's main buildings.

These structures were built sequentially over the past thousand years, from St. Peter's crypt to churches, chapels, papal palaces, museums, squares, and even governor's residences, helicopter landing pads, train stations, and the road system within the Vatican...

The wall, the visible border between Vatican City and Italy.

The Vatican's green spaces as seen from above.

The gardens occupy one-third of the Vatican's area, featuring a variety of plants from all over the world. Designed and constructed during the Middle Ages, the gardens feature scattered stone statues and fountains, nestled beneath tall trees and covered with lawns, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

The Castel Sant'Angelo fortress in Italy, believed to contain a tunnel connecting the Vatican to the Tiber River.

From this vantage point, one can also admire the romantic city of Rome with its gentle Tiber River, beneath many famous bridges. At night, the Vatican is illuminated, highlighting the beauty and sacredness of a religious center, especially a place that Catholics dream of visiting at least once in their lifetime.

The Vatican Museums house unique collections of art from around the world, attracting any visitor to Rome, with an entrance fee of 15 euros.

Vatican Museum

This March, marking the first anniversary of the new Pope's enthronement and also Easter, saw a significant increase in pilgrims flocking to the Vatican. Images of the Argentinian Pope, as well as religious items, were widely available for sale both inside and outside the Holy See.

The square, where pilgrims gather and also the invisible border between Vatican City and Italy.

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