Description
The Holy See, which some might know as the Vatican City, is located as a city-state inside of Rome, Italy. It's a 44 hectare enclave, and is considered to be the smallest independent nation in the world. While most countries have a terrain, this city-state is made up of gardens, cathedrals and various other buildings. It is surrounded by a city-wall that is open at the St. Peters Basilica, which has an imaginary border at the outer limits of the square. The St. Peters Square is open for the public, which has the Via della Conciliazione leading to it. This sovereign territory, which is the Diocese of Rome and the location of the Apostolic Palace, is overseen by an absolute monarch, the Pope. He oversees the Catholic Church from his ecclesiastical seat, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The Vatican City is considered to be the government capital of the Catholic Church. Its minute size and sovereignty bears only a Swiss Guard and the Corpo della Gendarmeria, its police, for security. The small economy employs the Euro by a special agreement with the European Union, to use only its coinage. The Vatican City is itself of great cultural significance. Buildings such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are home to some of the most famous art in the world, which includes works by artists such as Botticelli, Bernini and Michelangelo. The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, scientific and cultural importance. In 1984, the Vatican was added by UNESCO to the List of World Heritage Sites; it is the only one to consist of an entire state. The Vatican is 100% Roman Catholic, since the only inhabitants (fewer than the citizens) are the Pope, a small number of Cardinals and other ecclesiastics, the Swiss Guards and a very few others. There are less than 500 residents in this city-state, a small number compared to the millions of people who visit it each year.
Our Study Abroad Programs
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Affiliated Outside Programs
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CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange
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CIS Abroad
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Worldstrides Study Abroad
» Summer 2026
Cinque Terre, Florence
WorldStrides Summer Rennaisance to Riveria at Florence University of the Arts - Early June Start 2026, La Spezia 3-week + Florence 3-week
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Cinque Terre, Florence
WorldStrides Summer Rennaisance to Riveria at Florence University of the Arts - May Start, La Spezia 6-week + Florence 6-week
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Cinque Terre
WorldStrides Summer on the Italian Riviera - Early June Start 3-week
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Cinque Terre
WorldStrides Summer on the Italian Riviera - May Start 3-week
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Cinque Terre
WorldStrides Summer on the Italian Riviera - May Start 6-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Early June Start 4-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - July Start 2-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Mid June Start 4-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Design, Fashion & Digital Arts at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti - June Start
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Early June Start 2-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Late June Start 2-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Mid June Start 2-week
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Milan
WorldStrides Summer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Early June Start 6-week
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Rome
WorldStrides Summer at The American University of Rome - Veritas Christian Study Abroad May Start + Veritas
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Rome
WorldStrides Summer at The American University of Rome - June Start
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Rome
WorldStrides Summer at The American University of Rome - Veritas Christian Study Abroad - June Start + Veritas
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Rome
Veritas Christian Study Abroad, Rome: Business, International Relations & Liberal Arts (Summer 2)
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Rome
WorldStrides Global Health at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome Campus - Early June Start
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Rome
WorldStrides Global Health at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome Campus - Early June Start + Mid June Start
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Rome
WorldStrides Global Health at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome Campus - Mid June Start
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Rome
ISA Rome: Business, International Relations & Liberal Arts (Summer 1 & 2)
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Rome
Veritas Christian Study Abroad, Rome: Business, International Relations & Liberal Arts (Summer 1)
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Rome
WorldStrides Summer at The American University of Rome - May Start
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Florence
WorldStrides Internships & Experiential Learning at Florence University of the Arts - The American University of Florence - Late June Start, 6-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Internships & Experiential Learning at Florence University of the Arts - The American University of Florence - May Start, 6-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer Filmmaking or Acting for Film at New York Film Academy Florence - June Start 4-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer Filmmaking or Acting for Film at New York Film Academy Florence - May Start 4-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - May Start 6-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - May Start 9-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - Early June Start 3-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - May Start 3-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - Late June Start 6-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - Late June Start 3-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - July Start 3-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - Early June Start 9-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - Early June Start 6-week
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Florence
WorldStrides Summer at Florence University of the Arts - May Start 12-week
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» Academic Year 2026-2027
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Non-Affiliated Outside Programs
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IFSA: Institute for Study Abroad
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USAC: University Studies Abroad Consortium
» Summer 2026
Reggio Emilia
USAC Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Communications, Health, and Italian Studies
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Reggio Emilia
USAC Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Communications, Health, and Italian Studies
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Reggio Emilia
USAC Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Communications, Health, and Italian Studies
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Torino
USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies
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Torino
USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies
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Torino
USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies
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Verona
USAC Italy: Verona - International Business, Tourism, and Italian Studies
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Verona
USAC Italy: Verona - International Business, Tourism, and Italian Studies
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Verona
USAC Italy: Verona - International Business, Tourism, and Italian Studies
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Viterbo
USAC Italy: Viterbo -Intensive Italian Language, History, Mediterranean Studies, and the Arts
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Viterbo
USAC Italy: Viterbo -Intensive Italian Language, History, Mediterranean Studies, and the Arts
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Viterbo
USAC Italy: Viterbo -Intensive Italian Language, History, Mediterranean Studies, and the Arts
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» Fall 2026
Reggio Emilia
USAC Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Communications, Health, and Italian Studies
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Torino
USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies
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Verona
USAC Italy: Verona - International Business, Tourism, and Italian Studies
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Viterbo
USAC Italy: Viterbo -Intensive Italian Language, History, Mediterranean Studies, and the Arts
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» Academic Year 2026-2027
Reggio Emilia
USAC Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Communications, Health, and Italian Studies
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Torino
USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies
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Verona
USAC Italy: Verona - International Business, Tourism, and Italian Studies
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Viterbo
USAC Italy: Viterbo -Intensive Italian Language, History, Mediterranean Studies, and the Arts
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» Spring 2027
Reggio Emilia
USAC Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Communications, Health, and Italian Studies
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Torino
USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies
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Verona
USAC Italy: Verona - International Business, Tourism, and Italian Studies
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Viterbo
USAC Italy: Viterbo -Intensive Italian Language, History, Mediterranean Studies, and the Arts
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Quick Facts
Population: 61,261,254
Capital: Rome
Per-capita GDP: $ 30900
Size: 301,340 km2
Time Zone: (GMT + 01:00 hour) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
US State Department
Travel Warning: YES
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Country Specific Info.
Country information is adapted from public domain resources including the CIA World Fact Book and www.Wikipedia.org.
Please report errors or concerns to questions@abroadoffice.net .