| Page Views: 4,573 Last Visit to Vatican City: April, 2005 | Status Civitatis Vaticanæ by Glorija - last update: Aug 2, 2007 |
World`s smallest state | Inside the Vatican museum |
The Vatican is technically a rare case of a non-hereditary elective monarchy and is itself of great cultural significance.
Men, and especially women, must adhere to strict dress codes. Citizenship can be achieved by stable residence and by holding an office or job within the city. Tourism is an important factor in the daily life of the Vatican.
The name "Vatican" is ancient and predates Christianity, coming from the Latin Mons Vaticanus, Vatican Hill. The territory of Vatican City is part of the Mons Vaticanus, and of the adjacent former Vatican Fields where St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel, and museums were built, along with various other buildings. |
|  | Metropolis of the Roman Catholic ChurchPopes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy.
Population: 1,000
Area: 0.44 km2
***** little about political system *****
The government of Vatican City has a unique structure. The Pope is the sovereign of the state. Legislative authority is vested in a commission of cardinals appointed by the Pope for five-year periods. Executive power is in the hands of the President of that commission, assisted by the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary. The state's foreign relations are entrusted to the Secretariat of State.
There are specific departments that deal with health, security, telecommunications, etc.
The State of the Vatican City, created in 1929 by the Lateran Pacts, provides the Holy See with a temporal jurisdiction and independence within a small territory. It is distinct from the Holy See. The state can thus be deemed a significant but not essential instrument of the Holy See. The Holy See itself has existed continuously as a juridical entity since Roman Imperial times and has been internationally recognized as a powerful and independent sovereign (at times even suzerain) entity since late antiquity to the present, without interruption even at times when it was deprived of territory (e.g. 1870 to 1929).
The Holy See has the oldest active continuous diplomatic service in the world, dating back to at least AD 325 with its legation to the Council of Nicea. Ambassadors are accredited to the Holy See, never to the Vatican City State. |
| One of the beautiful paintings |
| | CultureIn Vatican city you can see the most beautiful art in the world and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, scientific and cultural importance.
The Vatican City is itself of great cultural significance. Buildings such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are home to some of the most famous art in the world, which includes works by artists such as Botticelli, Bernini and Michelangelo. The Vatican Library and the collections of the Vatican Museums are of the highest historical, scientific and cultural importance. In 1984, the Vatican was added by UNESCO to the List of World Heritage Sites; it is the only one to consist of an entire country. Furthermore, it is the only site to date registered with the UNESCO as a centre containing monuments in the "International Register of Cultural Property under Special Protection" according to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. |
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Glorija's Vatican City Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 6 - Photos: 6 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 |
 Glorija's Vatican City Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Glorija about Vatican City | | | | |
Redang Tue Jul 31, 2007 17:46 UTC
Greetings from hot Madrid! | Mikebond Sat May 28, 2005 14:43 UTC
Very beautiful photos and tips! I haven't been to Roma and Vaticano yet, but I will go soon, hopefully! | scottishvisitor Mon May 2, 2005 21:46 UTC
Great art work to be found here Good start to your page |
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