the Vatican

The Vatican in Rome, surrounded by fortified walls, is the seat of the Papacy. It also incorporates a number of museums and galleries. The first Vatican Borgo was constructed as a defined precinct by Pope Leo IV from 847-55 to protect St Peter's Tomb. This was extended and made more defensible by subsequent Popes until a major new design was undertaken from 1447-55 by the architect Alberti. Subsequently many of the major architects and artists of the Italian Renaissance worked on the complex. These included Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, Donato Bramante, Raphael (Raffaelle), Michelangelo, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and Pirro Ligorio. The nucleus of the collections in the Vatican Museums dates from the time of Pope Julius II. Ruskin writes of visiting the sculpture and picture galleries in Praeterita ( Works, 35.276). The Sistine Chapel, which forms part of the complex was decorated with frescoes by a number of artists, culminating in the ceiling frescoes by Michelangelo. See also the Vaults of the Sistine.

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