Vatican City may be the smallest country in the world, yet it holds endless fascination.
This factbook looks beyond the familiar image of the pope and the Catholic Church to uncover the hidden details of the world's tiniest state.
What drives the day-to-day economy of Vatican City? What dish is most closely linked to its tradition? Does the state field international sports teams? How can someone obtain citizenship in a country with fewer than a thousand residents?
Each of these questions, and many more, are answered in a collection of quick, carefully written entries. The style is concise and engaging, designed for readers who want knowledge in short form without losing depth or accuracy.
From stamps and post offices to conclaves and cricket, from guards and gardens to food, fun, and history, this book reveals the Vatican in all its complexity, strangeness, and charm.