"Vaticano" is the Italian and Spanish word for "Vatican".
The word Vatican is from the Latin word vaticanus, which means “hill.”
Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park. It is governed as an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head.
The Vatican mints its own euros, prints its own stamps, issues passports and license plates, operates media outlets and has its own flag and anthem. One government function it lacks: taxation. Museum admission fees, stamp and souvenir sales, and contributions generate the Vatican’s revenue.
Did you know that popes did not begin to live at the Vatican until the 14th century? Explore 10 things you may not know about the seat of the Catholic Church at History.com.