Vatican City is the smallest independent nation-state in the world and the residence of the spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. Vatican City became an independent state on February 11, 1929 defined by the Lateran Treaty. Its territory is the world’s smallest land area totaling a mere 44 hectares (108 acres) and is located…

St. Peter’s Basilica is located in Vatican City across from the Tiber River in Rome, Italy. The church is built at the site that is the likely location where St. Peter was buried in 64 AD. The construction of the basilica was completed around 349 AD and is the largest Catholic Church in the world….