Vatican: where to go and what to see. Who has been the Pope for the longest time? The oldest pharmacy and the shortest railway

Sights of the Vatican. The most important and interesting sights of the cities of the Vatican: photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, sites.

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Gardens of the Vatican

Throughout its history, the Vatican City State has changed the utilitarian purpose of those man-made parks that are present on the territory from time to time. In total, the gardens occupy about half the area and are located in the "upper" part of the country, directly on the Vatican Hill, on which the city was built.

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Sistine Chapel in the Vatican

The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is one of the most famous and popular monuments of culture and history among tourists from all over the world. Externally, the building, hand on heart, looks rather modest, however, once inside the building, you can be speechless from the beauty that surrounds you.

In the center of Rome is the tiny city-state of the Vatican. He is wholly owned by the church and lives under the leadership of the Pope - the main symbol of Catholicism. The Vatican is so small that you can walk around it in just an hour. Meanwhile, the palaces of the Vatican form the world's largest museum complex, which contains magnificent works of art, holy relics and other unique values ​​of world culture.

At the western end of the city is St. Peter's Square - the most big square Rome and, in fact, the main attraction of the Vatican.

Since the territory of the Vatican is quite small, and road traffic and completely imperceptible, the city does without traffic lights. Here you can and even need to walk on foot, because this is the only way to fully appreciate the extraordinary charms of the Catholic shrine. At the western end of the city is St. Peter's Square - the largest square in Rome and, in fact, the main attraction of the Vatican. Within it lies an amazing architectural ensemble, headed by St. Peter's Cathedral - the greatest creation of world architecture, the world's largest Christian cathedral.

St. Peter's Cathedral is unique monument the Renaissance. The greatest Italian masters worked on its creation, in particular, Raphael and Michelangelo. Knows no equal and the interior of the cathedral, replete with unique works of art.

An equally significant object extends north of St. Peter's Cathedral world heritage- Apostolic Palace. It includes dozens unique museums and galleries, including the famous Sistine Chapel - the true embodiment of the greatness of the Italian masters of the Renaissance. Until now, a conclave is being held within its walls - the ceremony of electing a new Pope. Perhaps, Sistine Chapel can be called the most visited, or at least the most famous, Vatican Museum. As part of architectural complex You can also visit the Apostolic Palace and the Vatican Library - the largest repository of ancient manuscripts. A handwritten Bible dating back to the 4th century AD is kept here. The territory of the Apostolic Palace is pleasantly decorated with well-kept gardens, fountains and cozy benches for relaxing.

The perimeter of St. Peter's Square is surrounded by a colonnade. Several hundred columns draw an even oval around the square, protecting it from the city and, as it were, isolating it from the outside vain world. According to the idea of ​​the author - the famous architect Bernini - the smooth oval of the colonnade should resemble a gesture of arms wide open for a hug.

Most of the enclave is occupied by magnificent gardens and parks. They are located in the eastern part of the city on the hill of the same name Mons Vaticanus. More recently, access to the gardens of the Vatican for ordinary tourists was very difficult, but today the rules have been simplified, and almost everyone can walk through the life-giving masterpieces of park architecture. The gardens of the Vatican are decorated with fountains, graceful sculptures, small churches, palaces and towers. Olives, oaks and cypresses grow everywhere here. There is even a zoo built over a century ago. Over time, the design of the local gardens has constantly changed, but their true charm has been carefully conveyed to this day.

What do we know about the Vatican? It is generally accepted that this is the smallest country in size. Theoretically, this true statement, but in a legal aspect, the Vatican is not. The area of ​​the state occupies only 44 hectares. But this is just an auxiliary sovereign territory under the Holy See. This means that the city-state is only used as the seat of the spiritual leadership. Even among the permanent UN observers, there is no Vatican on the lists, but there is the Holy See. What other secrets lie behind amazing story cities?

History of the Vatican

The name of the state comes from the Vatican Hill, on which it is located. At this place, the priests of the ancient Romans predicted the future. From the word vaticinia ("prediction") and got its name Vatican City. St. Peter's Square and the cathedral located on it are the heart of this tiny country. The white stonework at the end of the square is the state border of the Vatican. It coincides with the ancient defensive wall, which reliably protects the city-state.

For a long time, the territory of the modern Vatican was considered sacred and was not inhabited. After the widespread spread of Christianity, the Basilica of Constantine was built on the hill. Here they prayed, held meetings with the heads of other states, and even held competitions during Olympic Games. The Papal State was controlled by Italy for a long time, but after the adoption of the Lateran Accords in 1929, the Vatican became an independent state.

Economic development

The country lives according to socialist principles, the economy is planned here. Even John Paul II established the order of economic relations, which is still in effect today. The main sources of income for the Holy See are the donations of believers who come here from all over the world. They are ready to part with hundreds of millions of dollars for the sake of development catholic church. In addition, a small fee is also charged from pilgrims for visiting museums, selling souvenirs and postage stamps. Tourism is one of the main branches of the economy. With the world on a string - and the budget of a tiny country has been formed.

It is customary to mint the face of the ruling pope on banknotes. Modern coins of the Vatican - euro with the image of Pope Francis. However, even the current monarch failed to eliminate the country's budget deficit. Experts put forward proposals to play on the stock exchange and invest in bonds. The throne refused the first proposal for obvious reasons. But successful investments and art objects are becoming more expensive every day, which strengthens the position of the main Catholic state.

Swiss Guard

The corps of the Swiss Guard stands guard over the country's tranquility. This tradition took root in the 15th century, and it was legitimized by Pope Julius II. No wonder the Swiss were entrusted with the honorary mission, because once they saved the life of Pope Clement VII and still regularly serve for the benefit of the Holy See. On May 6, in honor of this event, the entire Vatican gathers for a solemn action. St. Peter's Square is filled with spectators wishing to see the colorful ceremony. Recruits take an oath to the Pope, who, in turn, blesses them.

The Swiss Guard is valiant, brave and fearless. In 1944, the Wehrmacht tried to capture the Vatican, but the guards took up all-round defense and promised to fight to the last drop of blood. Then the fascist troops retreated and no longer made attempts to break into the territory of the state. Now, as at all times, it is difficult to get into the guard corps: candidates must be at least 1 meter 74 centimeters, have excellent health, an impeccable reputation, profess Catholicism and sincerely believe.

Pope's election

Behind long history the existence of the state, it was possible to elect the head in different ways: there were bloodshed, assassination attempts, the forcible seizure of power and intrigues were woven for the sake of the Throne. Especially often this was sinned in medieval Europe. also in different time not only Italians were in power, but also the French, Syrians, Greeks, Africans and even Slavs. In fact, the decision to appoint a new pope was always made by the cardinals at the conclave.

Elections in the Vatican and to this day take place according to ancient traditions. Prisoner cardinals are locked up in the Sistine Chapel, where they remain until the decision on papal candidacy is unanimous. The conditions of seclusion have become comfortable, but the population of the Vatican, like the rest of the world, receives news through the pipe. White smoke indicates the arrival of a new pontiff, and black smoke indicates that the pope has not yet been elected.

Vatican Attractions

Tourism is the main source of income for the country. What attracts wanderers to the Vatican? St. Peter's Square, on which the majestic obelisk is located, is calling card city-states. The largest Christian church in the world is also located here - this is St. Peter's Cathedral. It was erected on the site of an apostolic burial in the 4th century. At different times, such famous artists as Raphael, Michelangelo, Peruzzi and others worked on its construction. At the same time it accommodates about 60 thousand people.

The Vatican is especially famous for its museums and art objects. The sights of this city-state include the Gregorian Etruscan Museum, the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Chiaramonti Museum, the Sistine Chapel, etc.

Population

Only the ministers of the Catholic Church make up the population of the Vatican. The area of ​​the state does not allow to accommodate all employees here, so most of them live in Italy and work for the good of the state for a nominal fee. Vatican citizenship also does not exist - all residents are subjects of the Holy See. In the entire history of the state, there were practically no marriages and no children were born: only 150 marriage unions were registered in the country.

Despite a small number population, there is an unusually high crime rate. For about 500 citizens of the Vatican, there are approximately 340 civil cases and 490 criminal cases per year. Basically, they are made by visitors and tourists.

For travelers and believing Christians, the following facts about this state may be of interest:

1. The Vatican's form of government is an absolute theocratic monarchy. The Pope is elected by the Conclave for life.
2. The situation with citizenship is unusual: it is not inherited, it is not issued at birth, and it must also be canceled in connection with the termination of work for the Catholic Church. Only the Pope, ministers of the Throne and members of the Swiss Guard are entitled to receive it.
3. There is not a single airport in the country. Of the available modes of transport, there are Railway 850 meters long, which connects the station where the cathedral in the Vatican is located, with the Italian network. There is also a heliport repurposed for the Pope's diplomatic trips.

An invisible point on the world map plays a leading role in the development spiritual world. We will not be mistaken if we say that everyone dreams at least once to see this greatness with their own eyes and feel ancient culture Christianity.

Vatican is the most small state in the world. It was founded relatively recently, in 1929, according to the Lateran Agreement.

Every person in the world has heard about it, and for Catholics it is the center of the world, because here is the Holy of Holies of Catholicism - the residence of the Pope.

Despite its small area, only 0.44 square kilometers, the Vatican is full historical monuments, significant works of art and places significant to Christianity.

After the words "Vatican" and "Pope" one wants to continue: "The Sistine Chapel." Painted by iconic renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Botticelli, it is used in the gathering of the conclave for the election of a new pope.

It was built for a long eight years by order of Pope Sixtus IV, from whose name it received its name. With painting, everything turned out to be much more complicated - the fate of Michelangelo was closely connected with the chapel, and his frescoes from there, such as the Last Judgment, are considered central in the artist's work.

The Sistine Chapel is a masterpiece of the Renaissance, celebrating human genius in every fresco.

Raphael's Stanzas - four rooms in museum complex this beautiful country. They are named after Rafael Santi, whose frescoes adorn the walls of these rooms.

According to legend, the artist's skill delighted the Pope so much that he ordered the destruction of the finished works of other painters and entrusted the responsible task of painting the stanzas to an exceptionally young Raphael.

St. Peter's Basilica is one of the main attractions of the Vatican. The soul of Catholicism is concentrated in this majestic place - on Wednesdays there is a Papal service and an audience with the head of the church.

It is impossible to get around the cathedral quickly, because you can talk about every, even the smallest detail for hours, whether it be a door or a statue. Of course, this building was not deprived of the attention of the key figures of Italian art: the striking dome and a number of sculptures were built according to the project of Michelangelo, and Giovanni Bernini worked all his life on the interior decoration of the temple.

St. Peter's Basilica is a place that impresses with its grandeur and certainly deserves a visit.

St. Peter's Square is located in front of St. Peter's Cathedral and looks like two semicircles framed by columns. It is here that people from all over the world gather to personally see the performance of the pontiff. But for non-religious connoisseurs of art and culture, there is something to see here: semicircular colonnades and the Egyptian obelisk, which Emperor Caligula brought to Rome, amaze with their beauty. Peter's Square and Rome are separated by only white line on the pavement - the real border between states.

Apostolic Palace, part of which is perfectly visible from Cathedral Square – main residence Pope of Rome. The palace is represented by a group of buildings in which the pontiff not only lives, but also manages the entire Catholic Church of the world.

- that's what the rooms in which dad lives are called. To date most of The apartment is reserved for a collection of religious art, which was founded back in 1973. And the most visited part of the Apostolic Palace is the Sistine Chapel, which we talked about above.

The Pontifical Pinakothek is located in the grove of the Vatican Garden and contains many works visual arts. The Pinakothek has different halls, divided according to a certain attribute. For example, there is a separate room for portraits. Here, of course, in the overwhelming majority of images of Popes, but "diluted" with portraits of emperors. There are halls with Byzantine paintings, ancient icons, archaeological finds and much more.

Like all other buildings of the Vatican, the Pinacoteca itself is an outstanding architectural monument.

Gardens

The gardens of the Vatican are truly huge on a national scale - 44 hectares. Winding gardens, chestnut groves and novelties in landscape design– traditions are mixed with modernity here, and this “mix” is definitely worth looking at.

You can get into the Gardens only as part of a group by purchasing single ticket, and at a certain time, which depends on the month in which the tour is carried out.

The museum is dedicated, as the name implies, to the Etruscans, the ancestors of the Romans who lived in their territories before them. Contains mostly ancient Etruscan household items.

The Egyptian and Etruscan museums are located in the same building: the Egyptian one on the lower floors, the Etruscan one above. The Egyptian Museum houses an exhibition of art ancient egypt, mainly - sculptures and busts.

The museum was named so in honor of Popes Pius VI and Clement XIV, who ordered to collect outstanding works of art from the Greeks and Romans.

The museum is divided into thematic halls: the hall of animals, the gallery of statues, the hall of the Rotunda, the gallery of busts, the hall of muses, the Apoxymenes study, the masks room, the hall of the Greek cross and the courtyard. And it is up to us, the people living at the present time, to judge how the idea of ​​the Popes has come true, because the catalog of valuables from the Pio-Clementino Museum alone occupies seven volumes.

Castel Sant'Angelo or the Sorrowful Castle as it is popularly called, was originally built as a mausoleum. Later it was used as a fortress. Until it was ruined in the 5th century, and in the 14th century it was restored in accordance with the requests of the Holy See. The castle is now architectural monument and one of the most popular military history museums.

A truly monumental attraction is the 29-meter-high bronze canopy above the main altar in St. Peter's Basilica. It was created by Giovanni Bernini and named after him. grand building from bronze - material was brought from all cities of Italy for its construction, and then, when resources ran out, some other structures in the Pantheon had to be dismantled.

The sacred grottoes of the Vatican are the last refuge of many ministers of the church and people associated with it. They are located at a depth of three meters, at the level of an ancient basilica built in the 4th century.

In addition to the tombs in the grottoes, there are several chapels in which memorial masses are held. Under the grottoes is the ancient Roman Necropolis

"Sphere within a sphere" or "Sfera con Sfera" is a bronze statue from a series of sculptures, united thematically and located around the world.

It is a model of the globe in a larger diameter ball, which symbolizes the universe. Arnoldo Pomodoro, the author of the sculpture, put into it the idea that the Earth is inextricably linked with the universe, and every act of mankind affects not only us, but everything that surrounds us. A peculiar feature of the "Sphere" is that this impressive ball (4 meters in diameter) is able to rotate.

This is where the " Sphere within a sphere". However, this is not the only architectural decoration of the attraction. Another sculpture worth seeing is the pinecone statue that gave the place its name. The bas-reliefs on its lower part are decorated with Roman atlantes, and the cone itself is the “crown” of the fountain. On the sides of it are two peacocks.

The gallery of tapestries includes 27 tapestries, mostly from the 17th century, which are united by one theme - the Bible and the history of Christianity.

In Gallery special atmosphere- intimate twilight reigns, because the curtains are always drawn. But these are elementary precautions, because light can damage fragile ancient works of art.

The Pieta or Lamentation of Christ is popular because it is the only work signed by the author, Michelangelo.

Represents two figures - a young Madonna holding a lifeless Christ in her arms. Grace here is intertwined with sorrow, living with the inanimate. A truly masterful work done with all the skill and talent of a great master. It is located in St. Peter's Basilica.

The gallery is located on a separate floor in the Pope's Palace and was founded in the 16th century by Pope Gregory XIII. The exposition is 120 meters long and consists of 17 parts and includes 40 geographical maps possessions that once belonged to the Catholic Church.

The Vatican is a great state that has collected the greatest works of art in such a small area. It would not be an exaggeration to say that each stone of St. Peter's Square is significant in the history of the whole world, because these stones were touched by the foot the greatest people of all time: emperors, cardinals, artists, poets and, of course, popes. One can be an atheist, but one cannot remain indifferent to the treasure that the Vatican keeps.

This is truly a treasury of the world and a repository of worldly wisdom and history, albeit shown only through the prism of religion.

The smallest state in the globe, called an island of calm amid the noisy bustle, is also the capital of a vast spiritual world. The residence of the head of the Catholic Church is located in the smallest country in terms of area and number of living citizens. The majestic city-state took its name from the Vatican Hill, known since the time of the ancient Etruscans, which in Latin sounds like a “place of divination”. However, some believe that it was on the territory of the country that Emperor Nero killed Peter, the disciple of Christ, and from that moment the city began to bear the name Vatican (from Vattaca - the name of the god of death).

miniature country

Surely many wondered what the area of ​​​​the state of the Vatican is. In the smallest country in the world, located in the center of Rome, there are no more than one thousand people, and almost all of them are the clergy of the enclave inside Italy. In terms of territory, the dwarf state is located on last place: area of ​​the Vatican in sq. km - 0.439, this is only 44 hectares.

Ancient history of the city-state

Separated from Rome by a wall running along state border, ancient city has its own symbolism and anthem. is the head of the country and represents the interests of the Holy See. State with ancient history had no settlements ancient times, in the 4th century, the first estates appeared on the sacred place. Then a decree was adopted allowing the Christian church to own property received by will and donation from wealthy families.

Later, many areas were confiscated, but even after that he remained the largest owner of Italian lands, which greatly strengthened his authority, at the same time causing management problems. Until 1871, when the Pope was recognized as a subject of Italian law with a number of privileges, fierce disputes continued over the independence of the Holy See.

Such an important issue was resolved only in 1929, when an agreement was signed officially confirming the formation of an independent Vatican state.

dwarf state

As already noted, the dwarf state of the Vatican, whose area is largely occupied by the famous green gardens and roads, and not by its buildings, is extremely small. Speaking of unique miniature sacred place Christians, then Peter, erected over his grave, and the square of the same name are located on 20 percent of the entire territory of the country. But the border possessions located in the eternal city, and a country residence are almost 0.7 square meters. km.

Obelisk on the square in the center of the country

The center of spiritual development is the most closed state. Many parts are inaccessible to tourists holy city, and for some of them there is a special procedure for visiting. For example, in order to get into the stunning states that have become a decorative decoration, a special agreement is needed.

But the main attraction that the Vatican is proud of is open to everyone - St. Peter's Square with an amazing obelisk, brought from Egypt, located on it. Associated with him interesting story passed down from generation to generation. In the 16th century, 900 workers installed the obelisk on a pedestal using special winches. Onlookers watching the action were forbidden to say anything on pain of death.

The obelisk was lifted up very smoothly and slowly, but at some point the supporting ropes loosened, and it seemed that the structure would collapse to the ground. And then, in the deathly silence, a cry sounded, calling to urgently wet the ropes so that they would tighten after exposure to water. This daredevil was the captain of the ship, who was later praised by the Pope himself and allowed him to bring palm branches to the Vatican from travels before holy Easter.

The legend of Caesar's ashes

There was a legend according to which the ashes of the great Caesar were on top of the granite obelisk. When moving, the ball that crowned the structure was carefully examined, but nothing was found there, nevertheless, the empty container was placed in the museum, and the top is now crowned with a cross.

St. Peter's Square

Filled with pilgrims on religious holidays little Vatican, St. Peter's Square gathers thousands of visitors who went to long way just to hear the Pope's blessing. The Christian Colosseum, as this square is often called, strikes with amazing architecture.

Not a single person is left indifferent by the mighty colonnades of St. Peter's Cathedral, they are often compared with the galleries that were built during the ancient rome. From their peaks look 140 sculptural images of saints. And if you stand in the center, then an amazing effect arises - the columns located in 4 rows around the square will hide one after another, as if invisible.

Pine cone area

If we talk about which area of ​​the Vatican is the most unusual, then it is worth mentioning the building in front of the Belvedere Palace. The ancient fountain, crowned with a bronze pine cone, gave its name to the masterpiece of the Italian architect Bramante, who, by the way, began to build St. Peter's Cathedral, but did not live to see its opening.

The area of ​​the pine cone is notable for a unique polished ball rotating in a large sphere. This sculpture symbolizes the negative impact of human hands on nature. This area of ​​the Vatican, the photo of which is presented below, belongs to the sights accessible to all tourists.

Conclusion

social position dwarf state, living off various donations, tourism income, the sale of souvenirs and coins, is often severely criticized. But it is all the more surprising that the Vatican, whose area is more than 100 times smaller than Peterhof, still has an incredible impact on the entire Catholic world.

The Vatican, this amazing state within a state, is in itself a unique attraction in Italy. Its tiny territory hosts many architectural and religious monuments- cathedrals, museums, palaces, in the creation and design of which famous Italian architects, artists, sculptors participated. Undoubtedly, all the sights of the Vatican deserve attention, but today we will talk about the most-most - the most impressive, the most majestic, the most famous and popular.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

St. Peter's Basilica, the main attraction not only of the Vatican, but of Rome as a whole, is a magnificent architectural structure, majestically towering on the square of the same name. Once on the site of the cathedral there was the circus of Nero, in the arena of which the apostle Peter was martyred.

In memory of him, in 326, on the orders of Emperor Constantine, a basilica was founded. Peter's tomb was located directly under the altar of the basilica. Since over time the first basilica fell into disrepair, it was decided to build a new cathedral in its place - its construction was led by Pope Nicholas II, and after his death - by Julius II.

Once on the site of the cathedral was the circus of Nero

Donato Bramante, Antonio da Sangallo, Rafael Santi, Giacomo della Porta, Michelangelo, Domenico Fontana, Carlo Maderna managed to work on the construction and decoration of St. Peter's Cathedral - each of them contributed something of his own to his architectural appearance. The cathedral is so large that the largest European churches could easily fit under its vaults; 60 thousand people can be in it at the same time.

facade and interior interiors The temple is decorated with numerous statues of saints, the dome is painted with scenes from the life of the apostles. Many Christian relics are stored in the cathedral - the relics of St. John Chrysostom, the spear of Longinus, here you can see the tombstones of the popes, which are unique works of art.

In a survey conducted among BlogoItaliano subscribers in early 2015, St. Peter's Basilica was named the most interesting landmark in Italy, leaving the most impressions. Well, in more detail BlogoItaliano wrote about the Cathedral in.

The facade and interior of the temple are decorated with statues of saints.

The Sistine Chapel

The famous Sistine Chapel, which is part of the Papal Palace, was built in the 15th century on the initiative of the then ruling Pope Sixtus IV. The author of the project was Baccio Pontelli, and the talented architect Giovannino de Dolci brought it to life. The chapel was intended for holding masses and meetings, as well as conclaves - councils of cardinals convened to select a new pope after the death of the previous one.

The rectangular building adjacent to St. Peter's Cathedral is unremarkable from the outside - ordinary fortress walls, small windows, a covered gallery encircling the building.

The main treasures of the Sistine Chapel, admired by all who have seen them, are located inside the building - its walls and ceiling are decorated with magnificent frescoes by Italian masters. The best Florentine and Umbrian artists - Perugino, Rosselli, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, and later Michelangelo, painted the chapel with scenes of religious content. The frescoes are periodically restored, thanks to which they still look great today.

Fresco "The Last Supper" by Cosimo Rosselli in the Sistine Chapel (1481-82)

Please note that the lines for tickets to the Sistine Chapel are among the longest in Rome. It is quite possible to stand in them for several hours. To avoid wasting time, it makes sense to buy tickets to the Chapel and other Vatican Museums in advance - via the Internet. You can do it on this page.

BlogoItaliano has already written about the Sistine Chapel. More detailed information about this sights of the Vatican can be found in the following articles:

Pinakothek

The Vatican Pinakothek was founded in the second half of the 18th century by Pope Pius VI, who amassed a collection of paintings that became the core of the museum. There was no room suitable for housing a collection of paintings in the Vatican - at first the paintings were stored in the Gallery of Paintings and the Candelabra Gallery, then in the Borgia Apartments, but there was not enough light there.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Pinakothek moved to the Tapestry Gallery, but even it was not very suitable for storing paintings. Only in 1932, the Vatican Pinakothek acquired its own building - the paintings were housed in 18 spacious rooms, where optimal conditions were created for works of fine art. The Pinakothek has storage and restoration workshops, as well as a photo archive and a library.

The paintings in the Pinakothek are arranged in chronological order.

The expositions of the Vatican Pinakothek include works by Italian masters of painting from different eras, a collection of Byzantine art collected by Pius X, as well as a small number of works by masters from other countries. In the halls of the museum, the paintings are arranged in chronological order.

The Pinakothek is part of the complex, and therefore tickets to the Sistine Chapel are also valid for visiting the Pinakothek.

Vatican Library

The Vatican Apostolic Library was established during the reign of Pope Nicholas V in 1451. The basis of the library was a collection of manuscripts and manuscripts found in the possession of Nicholas's predecessor, Pope Eugene IV, as well as the personal collection of the current pope.

Nicholas V, and then Sixtus IV, who replaced him in office, significantly replenished the library's funds - by the end of the 15th century, there were about 3,500 manuscripts in the vaults, brought from different parts of Europe and the countries of the East. The first official librarian was Bartolomeo Platina, appointed by Pope Sixtus IV.

The library contains old manuscripts, drawings, etc.

Today, the Vatican Library is divided into several departments, each of which occupies several rooms. The library has a lot of old manuscripts, handwritten and printed books, a unique collection of drawings and engravings, coins and medals, as well as artifacts found in the Roman catacombs.

Stanza Raphael

In the 16th century, Pope Julius II ordered the painting of several rooms papal palace Raphael - the greatest master of the Renaissance. The first room to be decorated with frescoes was the Signatures Room, which served as the office of the popes. The Pope liked the result so much that the frescoes created earlier by other artists were knocked down and the design was completely entrusted to Raphael and his “team”.