Properties of the Holy See

Properties of the Holy See
with extraterritorial rights in Rome
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	Complexes of St John in Lateran and of Scala Sancta ; Complex of Santa Maria Maggiore ; Palazzo di San Callisto and buildings along the Via S. Egidio in Trastevere ; Palazzo della Cancelleria ; Palazzo di Propaganda Fide ; Palazzo Maffei ; Palazzo dei Convertendi ; Palazzi detti dei Propilei; Palazzo San Pio X; Properties on the Gianicolo ; Palazzo del Santo Uffizio ; Basilica di San Paolo fuori le mura ;
Criteria	Cultural
Reference	91ter
Inscription	1980 (4th Session)
Extensions	1990, 2015
Area	38.9 ha (0.150 sq mi)
Coordinates	41°53′24.8″N12°29′32.3″E / 41.890222°N 12.492306°E
	Location of Properties of the Holy See in Rome Properties of the Holy See (Lazio) Properties of the Holy See (Italy)

Last updated September 07, 2025

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

Extraterritorial property

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

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

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

Extraterritorial property

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

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.