Vatican

Vatican, the papal palace at Rome so called from its situation on the Mons Vaticanus, at the extreme north-western part of the city. It is an immense pile of buildings, composed of parts constructed at different times, and often without due regard to the harmony of the entire structure. There existed a palace adjoining the basilica of St. Peter's probably as early as the time of Constantine, but certainly in the 8th century. In the 12th century this palace was rebuilt by Innocent II, and in the following century it was enlarged by Nicholas III. It became the papal residence on the removal of the see from Avignon to Rome in 1377, when Gregory XI adopted it as the pontifical palace on account of its greater security over the Lateran (which had been the residence of the popes for one thousand years) by the nearness of the Castle of St. Angelo. John XXIII increased this security by building a covered gallery connecting the palace with the castle. Nicholas V, in 1450, began to improve it on a magnificent scale, but died before completing his design. Alexander VI finished the older portion of the edifice nearly as we now see it. No part of the palace except the private chapel of Nicholas V, called the Chapel of San Lorenzc, is older than the time of Alexander VI (1492-1503). The part constructed by Alexander VI is known as the Old Palace, in distinction from the later works. To this structure Sixtus IV, in 1474, added the Sixtine Chapel. Innocent VIII, about 1490, erected the villa Belvedere, and Julius II (150313) connected it with the palace by the celebrated Loggia and a terraced court. In the gardens of the Belvedere, Julius laid the foundations of the Vatican museum. After the death of Julius, Leo X completed the Loggia under the direction of Raphael. Paul III built the Sala Regia and the Pauline Chapel (1534). Sixtus V, near the close of the 16th century, began and Clement VIII carried to completion, a new and more imposing palace on the eastern side of the court of the Loggia, which is now the ordinary residence of the pope and is by far the most conspicuous of all the Vatican buildings. Numerous alterations and improvements were made by succeeding pontiffs. Urban VIII (1623-44) had the celebrated staircase, Scala Regia, constructed from designs by Bernini. Clement XIV (1769-74) and Pius VI (1775-99) built a new range of apartments for the Museo Pio-Clementino. Pius VII (1800-23) added the Braccio Nuovo, running parallel with the library. Leo XII (1823-29) began a series of chambers for the gallery of pictures. Gregory XVI (183146) completed these and placed the Etruscana Museum in its present position. Pius IX (1846-77) enclosed the Loggia in glass, removed the gallery of pictures to the upper part of the palace, erected the magnificent stairs leading to the state apartments, and decorated the apartments formerly occupied by the pictures with frescos to serve as reception-rooms for ladies. It will be seen from this account that the Vatican is rather a collection of separate buildings than one regular structure. It occupies a space 1151 by 767 feet, and has 8 grand staircases, 200 smaller ones, 20 courts, and 4422 rooms.

The Scala Regia, the great staircase by Bernini, consists of two flights; the lower decorated with Ionic columns, and the upper with pilasters. It leads from the extremity of the right-hand portico of Bernini to the Sala Regia built during the pontificate of Paul III, as, a hall of audience for the ambassadors, and covered with frescos illustrating various elements in the history of the popes. It also serves as an ante-hall to the Sixtine and Pauline chapels.