One of the most influential countries in the world, Vatican City is home to some of the world's most treasured art, the world's largest religious building and a vast collection of historical, scientific and cultural papers. Read on to find out more about the only country in the world to be listed as an UNESCO heritage site in its entirety.
身為全球最具影響力的國家之一，梵蒂岡是全球數一數二最珍貴藝術、最宏觀宗教建築，與豐富歷史科學文化文獻的典藏所在。跟我們一同探索，全球唯一全境都被聯合國教科文組織列為世界文化遺產的國家。
PHOTO: AFP
Closer look
The Papal States used to have over 44,000 km2 of territory. However, the unification of Italy in the late 19th century and the ensuing Lateran Agreement gave The Vatican a small enclave within Rome and statehood in return for recognition of Italy. The Vatican also has 23 sites in Rome over which it exercises control (mainly embassy buildings), plus 5 outside Rome (including the Pope's summer residence).
Within its 0.44km2 of territory, Vatican City houses some of the world's best-known art and architecture such as St. Peter's Basilica (which has a capacity of 60,000 people) and the Sistine Chapel, created by some of the world's best known artists and architects, including Botticelli, Bernini, Raphael and Michaelangelo.
The Vatican Library and Museums are home to many documents of scientific, historical and cultural significance, including examples of Egyptian hieroglyphics from 2600BC. You can view some of the rooms in the Museums and The Sistine chapel by visiting http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
The Holy See is the political entity of the Roman Catholic Church, and is also headed by the Pope. It conducts all the diplomatic and official relations with other countries. Currently The Holy See is the only European State to have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Despite the tiny size of Vatican City, the Holy See exercises enormous influence by virtue of its spiritual and moral authority over the world's 1.1 billion Catholics (one in six of the world's population) and relations with over 170 states.
Vatican City has a temperate Mediterranean climate, mild rainy winters, and hot, dry summers. Despite being less than 1km2 in size it has its own post office, supermarket, railway station, publishing house and bank. The ATMs have the distinction of being the only ones in the world to offer service in Latin. (catherine thomas, staff writer)
這個教皇國昔日的領土為四萬四千多平方公里。不過，十九世紀末義大利統一後，旋即簽訂的拉特郎條約賦予梵蒂岡在羅馬境內的一小塊被包圍的領地與國家主權，做為承認義大利的交換條件。梵蒂岡在羅馬也有二十三處的管轄權（主要為大使館建築），羅馬城外也有五處（包括教宗的夏宮）。
梵蒂岡零點四四平方公里的領土內，坐落著全球最知名的藝術與建築，如:聖伯多祿大教堂（可容納六萬人），與享譽全球的藝術家與建築家所打造的西斯汀教堂，如波提且利、貝里尼、拉菲爾與米開朗基羅等。
梵蒂岡圖書館與博物館是許多重要科學、歷史與文化文獻的所在，如西元前兩千六百年的埃及象形文字範本。你可以上http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html網站，一睹博物館與西斯汀教堂的間室。
教廷是羅馬天主教教會的政治實體，由教宗領導。教廷也掌管與他國的外交與官方關係。教廷是目前唯一與台灣建交的歐洲國家。雖然梵蒂岡國土袖珍，卻憑藉宗教與道德權威，對全球十一億天主教徒（佔全球人口六分之一）與所建交的一百七十多國產生重大影響。
梵蒂岡具有溫和的地中海型氣候，冬季溫暖多雨，夏季乾燥炎熱。雖然面積不到一平方公里，卻擁有自己的郵局、超市、火車站、出版社與銀行。當地的提款機獨樹一幟，是全球唯一提供拉丁語服務的提款機。（翻譯：賴美君）
Who Knew? 你知道嗎
The Swiss Guard is responsible for the general policing of Vatican City. Originally made up of Swiss mercenaries, it was founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II. This makes it the world's oldest regular army. There are currently just over 100 guards and they are recruited solely from Swiss Catholic men. The Swiss Guard also acts as bodyguard to the Pope. An interesting idiosyncrasy is that due to a resident population of less than 1,000 people and millions of visitors each year, Vatican City has the highest per capita crime rate in the world. Most of the crime is petty theft such as pick pocketing and purse snatching. As most of the thieves are themselves visitors, 90 percent of cases are unsolved.
梵蒂岡的瑞士衛隊專門負責梵蒂岡的治安工作。瑞士衛隊最早由瑞士佣兵組成，由教宗儒略二世在一五○六年成立，是全球歷史最悠久的常駐軍。目前只有一百多位衛兵，成員清一色是瑞士的天主教男子。瑞士衛隊也是教宗的隨扈。一項有趣的特色是，由於當地居民不到一千人，每年又有數百萬遊客，使梵蒂岡成為世上平均人口數犯罪率最高的地方。大多數的犯罪都是小竊盜案件，如扒竊或偷竊錢包。由於多數的竊賊也是觀光客，有九成未破案。
About Vatican City 國家概況
Size: 0.44km2
Location: Rome, Italy.
Border: Italy
Capital: N/A
Population: About 1,000
Languages: Italian, Latin, German (Swiss Guard).
Government: Ecclesiastical
Currency: Euro; 1 euro is worth about NT$43
面積︰零點四十四平方公里
位置︰義大利羅馬城內
鄰國︰義大利
首都︰無
人口︰約一千人
語言︰義大利語、拉丁語、德語(瑞士衛隊）
政體︰教會政體
貨幣︰歐元，一歐元約等於新台幣四十三元
What Time Is It There? 現在那裡幾點
Vatican City is seven hours behind Taiwan. If it is 9:15pm in Taiwan, it is 2:15pm in Vatican City.
梵蒂岡比台灣晚七小時。假如台灣現在是晚上九點十五分，梵蒂岡就是下午兩點十五分。
Flag 國旗
Vatican City's flag is unusual in that it is square. The right hand side of the flag shows the coat of arms of the Holy See — the crossed keys of St Peter (the keys to the gates of heaven) and the three-tiered papal tiara. The keys are reversed on the Holy See flag.
梵蒂岡的國旗由於是正方形所以獨樹一幟。國旗右方是教廷的國徽︰聖彼得的十字鑰匙（開啟天門的鑰匙）與三重冠。教廷國旗上的鑰匙是倒置的。
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