Vatican City, Rome Royalty-Free Stock Image

The term "Vatican" originates from the Roman Republic era, referring to the Ager Vaticanus, a marshland on the Tiber's west bank opposite Rome, bordered by the Janiculum, Vatican Hill, and Monte Mario, stretching to the Aventine Hill and the Cremera creek's confluence. Vatican City encompasses Vatican Hill and the surrounding old Vatican Fields. Here, St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel, and museums, among other structures, were erected. This region was part of the Roman district of Borgo until 1929. Located on the Tiber's west bank, it was historically separate from Rome, initially enclosed within Leo IV's walls (847–855) and subsequently fortified under Paul III (1534–1549), Pius IV (1559–1565), and Urban VIII (1623–1644).