Nestled within the heart of Rome, Vatican City is a unique and awe-inspiring destination that draws visitors from around the world. With its stunning architecture, world-renowned art collections, and rich history, Vatican City is a place of deep spirituality and cultural significance. Despite being a small city-state, the Vatican never fails to surprise with its quirks and controversies. From the infamous Hot Priest Calendar to the unrealized Vatican forest promised in 2007, the Vatican can leave visitors scratching their heads. So, let’s don our most comfortable shoes and embark on a journey through the Vatican’s hallowed halls, as we explore the wonders and mysteries of this holy land.
1-5 Interesting Facts About Vatican City
1. Visitors to the Vatican in Rome might be surprised to find a unique souvenir on offer: a “Hot Priest Calendar” featuring attractive Roman Catholic priests from Vatican City and Italy, captured in tasteful photographs by photographer Piero Pazzi. This quirky calendar is sure to raise some eyebrows and spark some conversation among tourists.
2. The walls surrounding Vatican City were originally built to defend against pirates.
3. Vatican City has no hospitals or delivery rooms, which means that no one can be a citizen of the Vatican by birth. Instead, citizenship is granted based on an appointment to work in a specific capacity for the Holy See, with family members also being eligible for citizenship while living together. Once the appointment ends, citizenship is revoked.
4. In a surprising move, the Vatican defended the popular video game franchise Pokemon in 1997 when other Christian groups criticized it for promoting the theory of evolution.
5. The Vatican City and the Philippines are the only two countries in the world that do not have procedures for divorce, with annulment being the only legal option for ending a marriage.
6-10 Weird Facts About Vatican City
6. With a population of just 825 people and an area of only 0.44 square kilometers, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and can be walked around in less than an hour.
7. Vatican City is the only country in the world that has been designated entirely as a World Heritage site, including both the city of Vatican and extraterritorial properties in Rome, such as the Basilica of St. Peter and Saint Mary Major.
8. In 1985, five Americans were arrested in front of the Vatican for dancing and displaying the Hook ’em Horns hand signal, which was believed to have satanic connotations.
9. Galileo, who defended the idea that the Earth was not the center of the universe, was placed under house arrest by The Holy Office until he died in 1642. In 1992, the Vatican formally acknowledged its mistake and affirmed that Galileo was right all along.
10. The Vatican runs an astronomical department and operates the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, which is located in Arizona and is one of the largest telescopes in the world.
11-15 Awesome Facts About Vatican City
11. Despite being one of the smallest countries in the world, Vatican City has a national soccer team.
12. The Vatican endorsed the James Bond movie “Skyfall” in 2012, citing the portrayal of a more human, less stereotypical Bond character who was less attracted to indulging in life’s pleasures.
13. The obelisk at the center of Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City is a 4,000-year-old Egyptian obelisk that was brought to Rome by Caligula in 37 AD from Alexandria.
14. Vatican City has the highest per capita wine consumption of any country in the world.
15. In 1981, a Turkish man attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II by shooting him four times. After recovering, the Pope forgave the would-be assassin and even visited him in prison. At the Pope’s request, the man was later pardoned and even visited Vatican City to lay flowers on the Pope’s tomb.
Bonus Fact: The ATMs in Vatican City are unique in offering Latin as a language display option, making them the only such machines in the world.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 15 Awesome Vatican City Facts For Kids.
Read More:
15 Fascinating Turkmenistan Facts That Will Surprise You
