- Apostolic Palace
The Apostolic Palace, also called the Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican, is the official residence of the
Pope in theVatican City .The palace is a complex of buildings, comprising the
Papal Apartments , some of the Catholic Church's government offices, a handful of chapels, theVatican Museums and theVatican Library . In all, there are over 1,000 rooms with the most famous includingRaphael's Rooms and theSistine Chapel with its renowned ceilingfresco es painted byMichelangelo (restored between 1980 and 1990).The other papal residences are at the
Lateran Palace , and theCastel Gandolfo outsideRome . The Vatican Palace displaced the Lateran Palace in prominence during the fifteenth century; but it was eclipsed for an extended period by theQuirinal Palace .Before 1871, the
Quirinal Palace was the Pope's official residence. After the final overthrow of thePapal States in 1870, theKing of Italy confiscated that palace in 1871, making it the King's official residence. After the abolition of the Italian monarchy in 1946 it became the residence of the President of the Italian Republic.Popular culture
The Apostolic Palace appears as a Wonder of the World in the expansion for Sid Meier's Civilization IV, though the graphic representation is that of
St. Peter's Basilica .ee also
*
Borgia Apartment
*Clementine Hall
*Domus Sanctae Marthae
*Papal Gentlemen Publications
"The Vatican–its History–its Treasures" (New York, 1914) was written by various scholars connected with the Vatican and edited by Ernesto Begni and others. Briefer and more popular accounts M. K. Potter's "The Art of the Vatican" (new edition, Boston, 1903), and D. B. W. Sladen's, "How to See the Vatican" (New York, 1914).
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