Dublin Core
Title
Addition to Apostolic Palace
Description
While exploring the Apostolic, or Vatican Palace, it is important to note that it was not actually inhabited by the popes until Pope Innocent III built a papal residence near St. Peter’s in the late twelfth century [1]. The Popes re-established their residency at the Vatican in the fourteenth and fifteenth century following the Great Schism [1]. As the popes came back to reside in the Vatican, their fascinating influence in the city of Rome continued.
These popes were the most primary governors of Rome, and all came from different backgrounds with varying interests [2]. The Apostolic Palace was built by a collection of popes, ranging from Sixtus IV (his papacy was 1471-1484) to Gregory XIII (his papacy was 1572-1585) and Sixtus V himself (his papacy was 1585-1590). In fact, many of these popes who constructed the Vatican, or Apostolic Palace also played a role in the lengthy construction process of St. Peter's. Their different opinions and viewpoints are reflected in their unique wings that combine to form the Vatican Palace that we know today. The collections of the Vatican Palace most notably began when Pope Julius II moved the statue of Apollo Belvedere to the Vatican in 1503 [3].
Following the establishments of Sixtus IV’s Sistine Chapel and Gregory XIII’s new wing added to the left of the obelisk, Pope Sixtus V wanted to construct an addition to the Apostolic Palace during his papacy (1585-1590). Sixtus V had Domenico Fontana build a new wing in 1589 to the east of Gregory XIII’s. This wing had a rather simple geometric design, being a large square building and creating the third side of the Cortile di San Damaso courtyard. Sixtus V’s square wing sits nicely alongside Gregory XIII’s and Bramante’s facade. This wing is particularly significant because it has remained the location of the papal residence and the pope’s Sunday blessings to this day [1].
These popes were the most primary governors of Rome, and all came from different backgrounds with varying interests [2]. The Apostolic Palace was built by a collection of popes, ranging from Sixtus IV (his papacy was 1471-1484) to Gregory XIII (his papacy was 1572-1585) and Sixtus V himself (his papacy was 1585-1590). In fact, many of these popes who constructed the Vatican, or Apostolic Palace also played a role in the lengthy construction process of St. Peter's. Their different opinions and viewpoints are reflected in their unique wings that combine to form the Vatican Palace that we know today. The collections of the Vatican Palace most notably began when Pope Julius II moved the statue of Apollo Belvedere to the Vatican in 1503 [3].
Following the establishments of Sixtus IV’s Sistine Chapel and Gregory XIII’s new wing added to the left of the obelisk, Pope Sixtus V wanted to construct an addition to the Apostolic Palace during his papacy (1585-1590). Sixtus V had Domenico Fontana build a new wing in 1589 to the east of Gregory XIII’s. This wing had a rather simple geometric design, being a large square building and creating the third side of the Cortile di San Damaso courtyard. Sixtus V’s square wing sits nicely alongside Gregory XIII’s and Bramante’s facade. This wing is particularly significant because it has remained the location of the papal residence and the pope’s Sunday blessings to this day [1].
Creator
Pope Sixtus V and Domenico Fontana
Source
[1] Boorsch, Suzanne. “The Building of the Vatican: The Papacy and Architecture.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 40, no. 3 (1982): 4–64. https://doi.org/10.2307/3258914.
[2] Long, Pamela O. Engineering the Eternal City: Infrastructure, Topography, and the Culture of Knowledge in Late Sixteenth-Century Rome. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.
[3] Claridge, Amanda. Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2010.
[2] Long, Pamela O. Engineering the Eternal City: Infrastructure, Topography, and the Culture of Knowledge in Late Sixteenth-Century Rome. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.
[3] Claridge, Amanda. Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2010.
Publisher
Pope Sixtus V
Date
1589
Contributor
Cameron DeChurch
Format
The Apostolic Palace covers 162,000 square meters.
Type
Building
Coverage
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City