History of Vatican City
History of Vatican City : Situated on the spot where St Peter was martyred and buried almost 2000 years ago this has always been an important area for the Holy See. Prior to 1860 most of Central Italy was governed by the Papal States of which the Pope was the head. Their lands were protected by hired mercenaries and international armies. By 1860, however, most of the Papal states had been absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy with the city of Rome last to capitulate in 1870. In 1929 the Lateran Treaty allowed the State of the Vatican City to be formed, and thenceforth ruled by the Bishop of Rome - the Pope. History of Vatican City: Site History of the Vatican City The original lands that the Vatican City occupies today was also the site of Roman Emperor Nero's Circus. The obelisk in the center of the Vatican square (the only remnant of the original Circus) was originally part of Heliopolis (an ancient Egyptian city which stood in the vicinity of present day Cairo) but ta