Properties of the Holy See
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
---|---|
![]() Saint John Lateran; highest ranking basilica, seat of the Bishop of Rome; extraterrestrial property outside Vatican City territory. | |
Location | Rome, Italy |
Part of | Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura |
Includes |
|
Criteria | Cultural |
Reference | 91ter |
Inscription | 1980 (4th Session) |
Extensions | 1990, 2015 |
Area | 38.9 ha (0.150 sq mi) |
Coordinates | 41°53′24.8″N 12°29′32.3″E / 41.890222°N 12.492306°E |

The properties of the Holy See are regulated by the 1929 Lateran Treaty signed with the Kingdom of Italy. Although part of Italian territory, some of them enjoy extraterritoriality similar to those of foreign embassies, including tax exemptions.[1][2] Nonetheless, those visiting these properties are generally required to follow the immigration rules of Italy. For example, American seminarians at the Pontifical North American College need an Italian visa, despite residing, and studying, in extraterritorial property of the Holy See.
Outside Vatican City but inside Rome
[edit]Extraterritorial property
[edit]- Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano)[3]
- Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)[3]
- Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura) (the complex includes also the Benedictine monastery, the Pontifical Oratory of San Paolo and the Pontifical Beda College)
- Lateran Palace, Lateran University, the Scala Sancta and adjoining buildings[3]
- Palace of the Holy Office (home of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) in the Piazza del Sant'Uffizio and adjacent to the Basilica of St. Peter
- Palazzo di Propaganda Fide (home of the former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) in the Piazza di Spagna
- Palazzo dei Convertendi (home of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches), formerly in Piazza Scossacavalli, now in Via della Conciliazione
- Paul VI Audience Hall (partially; the rostrum with the papal throne however, is part of Vatican territory)[4]
- Campo Santo Teutonico
- General Curia of the Order of Saint Augustine (including the Collegio Sta. Monica and the Pontifical Augustinian Patristic Institute)
- Gianicolo Hill area properties,[3] namely the Pontifical Urban University, the Pontifical North American College, the Ukrainian Pontifical College of Saint Josaphat, the Romanian Pontifical College and the Bambino Gesù Hospital
- Jesuit Curia Complex
- Palazzo San Callisto (Palace of St Callixtus) – home of the former Pontifical Council Cor Unum
- Palazzo Maffei Marescotti (the Palace of the Vicariate) in Via della Pigna off the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II near the Piazza del Gesù
- Palazzo della Cancelleria between the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Campo de' Fiori
- Palazzo Pio in Via della Conciliazione (in exchange for Palazzo della Dataria)[4]
- Pontifical Minor Roman Seminary
Non-extraterritorial property
[edit]- Palace of the Holy Apostles attached to the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli
- Palace attached to the Church of San Carlo ai Catinari
- Collegio Bellarmino in Via del Seminario near the Church of Sant'Ignazio.
- Archaeological Institute, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Pontifical Lombard Seminary and the Russian College on Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore.
- The two Palaces of Sant'Apollinare between the Piazza Sant'Apollinare and Via della Serola.
- The House of Retreat for the Clergy of Saints John and Paul, including the Nympheum of Nero, on the Caelian Hill.
Former extraterritorial property
[edit]- Palazzo della Datarìa, near the Quirinal Palace (not a property of the Holy See anymore; exchanged for Palazzo Pio in the aftermath of Italian seizure of Quirinial Palace)[4]
Outside Rome
[edit]
1. Papal palace with adjacent garden
2. Garden of the Villa Cybo
3. Villa Barberini, gardens and agricultural area
4. Oliveto ex-Bacelli
5. Church of San Tommaso di Villanova
Extraterritorial property
[edit]- Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the Gardens of the Villa Cybo, Villa Barberini plus adjacent gardens, the summer estate of the Pontificio Collegio Urbano di Propaganda Fide and the papal farm between the towns of Castel Gandolfo and Albano Laziale (around 55 hectares or 140 acres).
- Area of Santa Maria di Galeria, where the antennae of Vatican Radio are located. The area was ceded by Italy to the Holy See in an agreement in 1951.[4]
Non-extraterritorial property
[edit]- The Basilica of the Holy House (Santa Casa) at Loreto, Province of Ancona.
- The Basilica of St Francis at Assisi, Province of Perugia.
- The Basilica of St Anthony at Padua, Province of Padua.
- The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, Graham County, Arizona, US.
The Fundamental Accord, signed in 1993, grants property rights and tax exemptions to the Holy See over various Christian holy sites in Israel, but the agreement was never finalized because of diplomatic problems between the Vatican and Israeli governments.
Gallery
[edit]-
Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome
-
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome
-
Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome
-
Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, Rome
-
Palazzo Maffei Marescotti, Rome
-
Palazzo dei Convertendi, Rome
-
Palace of the Holy Office, Rome
-
Palazzo San Pio X, Rome
-
Pontifical Urban University, Rome
-
Pontifical North American College, Rome
-
Papal Palace in Castel Gandolfo
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ see Article 13, 14, 15 and 16 in the Lateran Treaty Archived 2011-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "CIA - The World Factbook -- Holy See (Vatican City)". Central Intelligence Agency. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ a b c d Ferrari, Silvio; Benzo, Andrea (15 April 2016). Between Cultural Diversity and Common Heritage: Legal and Religious Perspectives on the Sacred Places of the Mediterranean. Routledge. p. 42. ISBN 9781317175032.
- ^ a b c d "Zone exterritoriali vaticane". Website of the Holy See. Retrieved 2009-12-08.