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Fast Facts: The Vatican
Monday, April 18, 2005
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• Vatican City is surrounded by, but not part of, the city of Rome.
• The Holy See (Vatican City) is the world's smallest state, with a total area of 0.44 sq. km. By comparison, it is about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, D.C.
• The Vatican is situated on the west bank of the Tiber River.
• Its press can print books or pamphlets in any language, from Old Ecclesiastical Georgian to the Tamil language of India and Sri Lanka.
• The interior of St. Peter's is filled with masterpieces of Renaissance and Baroque art; including Michelangelo's Pieta, the baldachin over the main altar by Bernini, the statue of St. Longinus in the crossing, the tomb of Urban VIII and the bronze cathedra of St. Peter in the apse.
• Population: 890
• Gained independence from Italy February 11, 1929.
• Revenues: $175.5 million
• The Vatican's defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at the entrances to Vatican City.
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