It has been a while since I've posted anything, so I figured it was about time I got busy. The reason I haven't posted anything is because I have so much to choose from. The next thing on my list is Rome and Vatican City, and there is so much to talk about and to see that it is really difficult to decide how to do it. Rome is such a beautiful city and there is so much history there it is not possible to say what is my favorite site.
Rome is the capital of Italy. It is Italy's largest and most populous city, located on the Tiber River. There are about 2500 years of history in Rome. It was once the largest city in the world, and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, the center of which is Vatican City. Rome is the third most visited tourist attraction in Europe, and is the headquarters of three of the world's 100 largest companies--Enel, ENI and Telecom Italia.
Legend has it that Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a wolf. All over Rome you can find the image of Romulus, Remus and the wolf as this is the official image of Rome. You will find it on everything from municipal buildings to sewer covers. All of the shops have pictures of the pope behind all of the counters. When we were there, even though Pope Paul VI was the current pope, everyone had pictures of Pope John XXIII. He was a very well loved pope and even though he had died several years before, he was still highly reguarded.
Italy had been victorious in World War I, and afterwards Italian Fascism rose to power under the guide of Benito Mussolini. He marched into Rome in 1922 to take his place as the ruler of Italy, eventually declared a new Empire, and allied Italy with Germany. There was a period of rapid growth which continued until World War II, during which Rome was damaged by both allied bombing and Nazi occupation. After Mussolini was executed and the war ended, a referendum in 1946 abolished monarchy in favor of the Italian Republic. There was tremendous growth in Rome after World War II, and Rome became a very fashionable city in the 1950's and 1960's--the years of la dolce vita ("the sweet life").
Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world. It occupies 44 hectares--one hectare is equal to 100 acres. The borders of Vatican City are represented by the walls around it and the travertine pavement curve that joins the two wings of the colonades in St. Peter's Square (more on this later). The population of Vatican City is about 800, over half of which actually have Vatican citizenship. The rest have permission to live there, temporarily or permanently, without benefit of citizenship. About half of the Vatican's citizenship does not live in Vatican City. Most of the citizens of Vatican City are diplomats, and therefore live in other countries around the world. The conferral or loss of citizenship is governed by special regulations issued according to the Lateran Treaty, a pact between the Holy See and Italy signed on February 11, 1929.
Vatican City has it's own flag and anthem, mints its own coins and issues its own postage stamps. The coins minted in Vatican City are legal tender throughout Italy and Europe. Vatican City is governed by absolute monarchy, with the head of state being the Pope. In the case of the death of a pope, the time between his death and the election and acceptance of the new pope (sede vacante) powers of the heaq of state are carried out by the College of Cardinals. The pope is elected by the Cardinals who are under 80 years old, and becomes a sovereign of Vatican City State the moment he accepts the position of Pope.
In the next few weeks I will post what we saw in Rome and Vatican City. There will be pictures and information on the Vatican, the Swiss Guards, the Monument to Victor Emmanuel, the Vatican Gardens and Museums, the Forum, the Mamertine Prison, the Coliseum, several churches, statues, art, the Sistine Chapel, the catacombs, Trevi Fountain, the Scala Santa in the Piazza San Giovanni, the Mouth of Truth, and anything else I can remember. I do want to say that in some instances I will be taking some pictures from the Internet as we didn't always get clear pictures. I am a horrible photographer, and 30 years ago cameras weren't as easy to use to produce fantastic pictures. Also, when we were there you were not allowed to take many pictures in St. Peter's Basilica--I don't know if they allow pictures now or not. As I looked at these pictures I had to laugh. Many years ago, before I was married I worked in the Comptroller's Office for the State of Maryland (Louis Goldstein himself--God Bless you all real good). I worked in the Admissions and Amusements Tax Division, and my boss at the time was of Italian descent. Every year he would go to Italy on vacation to visit family. One year they went to Rome and he took pictures inside St. Peter's. Of course, at that time pictures were taken with cameras that used film, not digital cameras. When he had the pictures developed the ones from St. Peter's did not turn out. He said you should listen when they tell you not to take pictures inside the Vatican.
So be sure to check back peridocally and see what I've posted. There was so much to see and learn. I wish now we had realized what an opportunity we had, but when you are 22 years old you don't appreciate what you have in front of you.
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