Articles: Travel Italy

For a majority of Catholics living across the world there is one destination that they would love to visit sometime in their lives. It is the Vatican City. A far off destination in Rome, Italy this country within a city is a plethora of fantastic pieces of art work spanning the centuries. It is the location of the Pope and mass is attended there by the thousands each day. The Vatican City is fascinating and will definitely always be one of the most popular destinations but few know of its intricate history and its political structure. The smallest country in the world, the Vatican City is home to many interesting subjects. This article will cover some of the basics of this fascinating city as well as its infrastructure. Maybe before it is all over you will find yourself booking a trip to Rome.

What is the history of the Vatican City?

The Vatican City has a long and rich history. It all started back before there was a Vatican City and the area was just a special part of Italy. It is said that the spire in the center of the circus was the site of the death of St. Peter. All around the circus are monuments to various saints and buildings that house the papal authorities. The area dates back to 1st century AD and has since become a holy place thanks to the Catholic Church refusing to remove its presence. It remained a place of sanctuary though it was not officially recognized as its own governing body until a treaty was signed by Benito Mussolini and Pietro Cardinal Gasparri in February of 1929.

How long have the Popes been in residence in the Vatican City?

The Vatican City was not always the residence of the Pope and his administration. For many years Popes governed other regions and at one time held a large portion of Italy's peninsula. That was until the mid 19th century when the rulers of Italy began to take over portions of the papal estates. Up until the mid 19th century many of the Popes ruled from the Lateran Palace, the Quirinal Palace and even at Avignon, France. In 1929 the Pope and his cabinet came to reside at the Vatican City courtesy of the treaty signed between King Victor Emmanuel III and Pope Pius XI.

Who guards the Vatican City?

The Vatican City is policed by the Pontifical Swiss Guard. You may be surprised to learn that prior to January 1506 the Pope and the Holy See once used Swiss mercenaries. Today the Guard continues to oversee the policing actions of the Pope and his cabinet. They accompany him everywhere with their brightly colored uniforms. It may be interesting to learn that only Catholic Swiss males are allowed into the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The policing force of the actual city, versus that of guarding the palace and the Pope is left in the hands of the Corpo della Gendarmeria.

What is the crime rate like in the Vatican City?

If you compare the amount of crime to the number of citizens you would be astounded at how high the crime rate actually is but you have to keep in mind that the majority of crime occurs from the tourists and visitors that come to the Vatican City. One of the most common crimes is petty theft such as pick pocketing and shoplifting.

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