The Vatican City is, in fact, its own country: an enclave surrounded by the city of Rome. With a population of around 750 people, it’s the smallest independent state – land wise, and people wise – in the whole world. The name, which is officially Stato della Città del Vaticano in Italian, probably comes from the Etruscan settlement Vatica or Vaticum. A visit to this iconic city state offers impressive historical, artistic, and religious sites.

From a look at the city’s layout, to its history, to the best places to visit, we’ll make sure you have all the information you need to make the most of your time in its 0.17 square miles. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.