Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and fits entirely inside the city of Rome.

Vatican City is an independent state located in Italy. Its borders are marked by old stone walls and a white line painted on the ground at St. Peter's Square. The country has between 450 and 800 residents. This gives it the smallest population of any recognized nation.The country has its own government and laws. It prints its own money called Vatican Euros and issues its own passports. It also has a small military called the Swiss Guard. These soldiers wear colorful uniforms and protect the Pope.The economy does not use taxes to make money. Instead, the country sells postage stamps and museum tickets to visitors. The Vatican Museums are very large and hold one of the biggest art collections in the world. The museum hallways are over 4 miles long.The country was created by the Lateran Treaty on February 11, 1929. This agreement ended a long argument between the Italian government and the Catholic Church. Today, the entire country is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the only time a whole nation has received this title.