The smallest European country is Vatican City. A city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy, Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church. It covers just about 44 hectares (110 acres) and has a population of around 800 people. Established as an independent state by the Lateran Treaty in 1929, Vatican City is home to significant religious and cultural landmarks, including St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's ceiling. Despite its small size, it holds immense influence in religious and political matters globally and is an important pilgrimage site for Catholics.