The word VATICAN is an ancient place-name of Etruscan origin. In pre-Christian
times it was applied to a vast area of swampy land stretching between
what is today Trastevere and Monte Mario. During the Imperial age, however,
the area was transformed into sprawling parks, with huge arenas built
for sporting events. In fact, what is now St.Peter's Square was probably
a circus for chariot racing, and the sire where early Christians in
the early part of the 4th Century, constructed a great basilica on the
site of what is thought to be St. Peter's Tomb. The current St. Peter's,
built during the 16th and 17th centuries, replaced that basilica.
For centuries the Popes lived in the area of the right bank of the
Tiber that has become the Vatican City, but the Vatican only developed
into the Church's governmental center in the 14th Century when Pope
Gregory XI returned from exile in Avignon. From the late 16th through
the mid-19th centuries, the Popes again neglected the Vatican, preferring
to live in a new palace on the Quirinale Hill, where they believed the
air was healthier. It was only after 1870 and the political unification
of Italy that the Popes permanently returned to the Vatican. And it
was not until 1929, when the Lateran Treaty between Italy and the Holy
See recognized its sovereignty and defined its boundaries, that the
State of the Vatican City was established as the official home of the
Pope and the center of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican is the
smallest sovereign state in the world (its 108 1/2 acres make it one-third
the size of Monaco). It has its own currency, postal service, passport,
newspapers, radio station and railroad system. Its population of less
than 1000 consists almost entirely of Church personnel, Vatican administrators
and representatives of international organizations.
Innovative guided walking tours and canal
boat tours of Venice, Italy that help visitors experience the full
effect of the world's most unique and beautiful city.
Our friendly Venice tour guides provide guided walking
tours that not only educate and inform the visitor, but entertain
them as well.
We strive to set ourselves apart from regular Venice sightseeing
tours and walking tours. Although some of our walks may feature
the famous landmarks of Venice, they primarily focus on the
labyrinth of back-streets and passageways, which are the very
soul of a unique city like Venice, making it on of the most popular
places to visit in Italy.
Our guides all possess an intimate knowledge of Venice,
and they all speak "purfect inglish". They will provide
you with an insiders view of Venice; introducing you to
her hidden treasures, and entertaining you with her great legacy
of legends and stories that seem to resonate throughout the city.
We are the only walking tour company that Guarantees no queues to enter the St. Marks Basilica & the Doges Palace
"On September 2. 2003, my family and I took your Discovering
San Polo & Dorsoduro walk. We all loved the tour - even those
who were originally less than enthusiastic about the idea of a
walking tour.
Our guide made the difference. She did an especially good job
of weaving the art history into the history of commercial Venice.
The tour of the Frari was a special bonus and I want to convey
how much we enjoyed that part of the tour."
Nancy James, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
We currently work with travel agents & tour operators
the world over. We can arrange tailor-made custom tours of
Venice for individual clients or for families & groups.
Together we can help create a unique package of private tours
and sightseeing options that will help visitors to Venice realize
the true magic of the world's most unique city.
"Thank you, Thank you, thank you! My son and daughter and I had such a wonderful time in Venice thanks in a large part to your wonderful company" Gerri Dolan, USA
"Informative and entertaining"
-Daily Mail
September 2002
"A fascinating tour, and a delightful guide" -James Craven
Sydney, Australia
"An interesting glimpse at the non-tourist side of Venice" -Mary Reese
Cardiff, UK
Avventure
Bellissime Tours offers the widest selection of 
