Several months back I brought up SMOM, which is argued by many to be the smallest country in the world. I just finished reading the constitution of the Order, but it didn't answer the questions I've had in my mind about territorial sovereignty. Without question, the Order is a sovereign entity with all rights of international law and with full bi-lateral diplomatic relations with 92 countries.
Has anybody run into any trustworthy documentation about its territorial status? It's sometimes referred to as the world's only extra-territorial sovereign state, or a sovereign state without territory, but some sources suggest it's "the world's smallest self-governing sovereign territory". A year ago or so, I posted some photos I took of the SMOM building in Rome, and it was fascinating to visit, even though it was closed for the weekend--a country closed for the weekend. What's even more funny is a country with one doorbell! Through the gate several cars with SMOM registration plates were visible.
Does anyone have the difinitive answer about whether or not its headquarters at Via Condotti 68 in Rome is actually sovereign territory separate from Italy? I wanted to ask while I was there, but it was a Sunday afternoon, the gate was locked and when I rang the doorbell there was an angry security guard who refused even to try to answer my questions.
Dallen