1AØKM Sovereign Military Order of Malta Joe, KO4RR and Victoria, N4WV operated from this extraterritorial area of Rome, Italy 12-22 July 2007 Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) is one of three sovereign extraterritorial areas within the borders of Italy. Joe & Vicki were there with about twenty other operators from five different countries.  The gardens surrounding the buildings were magnificent.   We operated from the Villa Malta which is located on Avintine hill over looking the Vatican City and St. Peters Basilica.