The smallest country in Europe is Vatican City.
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano), is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. Not only is it the smallest country in Europe, but it also holds the distinction of being the smallest country in the world by both area and population.
Here's a breakdown:
- Size: Vatican City covers an area of approximately 49 hectares (121 acres or 0.49 square kilometers/0.19 square miles).
- Location: It is located on Vatican Hill in Rome, and its borders are primarily defined by walls.
- Governance: It is governed as an absolute ecclesiastical monarchy, ruled by the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who is also the head of the Catholic Church.
- Significance: Despite its small size, Vatican City holds immense religious and cultural significance as the center of the Roman Catholic Church. It houses significant historical and artistic treasures, including St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums.
While other European countries like Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein are also small, they are significantly larger than Vatican City. Therefore, Vatican City firmly holds the title of the smallest country in Europe.
