Vatican City

Vatican City is correct because it’s a sovereign city‑state: the country and its capital are the same place. Although it lies entirely within the city of Rome, Rome is the capital of Italy—not of Vatican City. The Vatican is the world’s smallest independent state by area and population and serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy See. It contains St. Peter’s Basilica, the Apostolic Palace, and the Sistine Chapel, and is governed by the Pope as an elective absolute monarchy. Memory tip: for Vatican City, think “country = city = capital”—a tiny enclave inside Rome that stands on its own.