Order of Malta

May 25, 2012

The smallest nation in the world is located right in the center of Rome. And it’s not the Vatican.

The full name of the country is the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. The abbreviated name is the Order of Malta. Not to be confused with Malta.

This is the only country in the world where Latin is the official language. The first floor of the nation is rented out as retail space.

The Order has its own government, an independent judicial system, diplomatic relations with 104 nations and Permanent Observer status in the UN. It carries out its activity through six Great Priories, six Sub-Priories and 47 National Associations of knights on five continents. The Order issues its own passports.

If you ring the bell, a security guard will open the gates into the interior courtyard of the country.

The courtyard of the country.

The sky over the Order of Malta.

The flower planter is emblazoned with a Maltese cross.

The order has its own license plates.

Interestingly enough, the Order of Malta has postal agreements with some fifty countries, including Uruguay, Guinea, Canada, the Seychelles and Georgia. Russia is not on this list, although diplomatic relations between our two countries exist.

Post boxes. I had a postcard with an Order of Malta stamp, but I didn’t put it in. I’ll take it home myself.