Apostolic Palace

About the Apostolic Palace:

The Apostolic Palace (also known as the Papal Palace, the Palace of the Vatican or the Vatican Palace) is the official residence of the Pope (Most Popes have lived since the 16the century; however, in the case of Pope Francis, he chose to live in Casa Santa Marta nearby rather than the Apostolic Palace).  The Vatican itself refers to the building as the Palace of Sixtus V in honor of Pope Sixtus V (Pope from April 1585 to August 1590),  who was known for his efforts at urban reform of the city and under whose reign most of the present form of the palace was built.

However, the palace’s history goes back further, with an earlier papal residence constructed by Pope Symmachus in the 5th century. The palace has been expanded and modified over the centuries, with significant additions and decorations during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The entire building contains the papal apartment, various offices of The Church and the Holy See, private and public chapels, the Vatican Museums, and the Vatican Library, including the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and Borgia Apartment.

The Apostolic Palace is run by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household. The palace is actually a series of self-contained buildings within outer structure arranged around the Courtyard of Sixtus V (Cortile di Sisto V).

It is located northeast of Saint Peter’s Basilica and adjacent to the Bastion of Nicholas V, which houses the Vatican bank as well as the Niccoline Chapel, which features frescoes by Fra Angelico and his assistants. It is also close to the Palace of Gregory XIII.