Property
Inalienable patrimony and extraterritorial properties in Italy
There is no private real-estate market inside the State; property belongs to the Holy See or the State and is administered by APSA. The Lateran Treaty also grants extraterritorial status and tax immunity to designated properties in Italy.
Key rules
- Buildings such as the major basilicas and Castel Gandolfo enjoy extraterritorial status.
- APSA administers immovable patrimony and any leasing of Holy See property.
- Alienation of ecclesiastical property above set values needs canonical authorisation.
Governing law
- Lateran Treaty, arts. 13-16 (1929)
- Code of Canon Law, cc. 1254-1298 (1983)
In practice
A lease of an extraterritorial building is still governed by canonical alienation limits, so private-law assumptions about landlord freedom do not apply.