Architecture of Vatican City
St. Peter's Square
Vatican City is built on what is believed to be the
tomb of St. Peter and in the basement of St. Peter's Basilica there are architectural
remains from this ancient Roman time period, but little else remains from that time.
Likewise, there are a few medieval remnants, such as the city walls and some of
the towers, but much of what is visible in Vatican City today was built during the
Obviously, the most well-known building in Vatican City
is St. Peter's Basilica (1506-1626) and this structure is considered a masterpiece
of Renaissance architecture; it was built by a combination of architects, including
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (commonly known simply as Michelangelo)
and Gian Lorenzo Bernini among others.
The Apostolic Palace was also begun during this time and continued on for many years
(1589-1800s), giving this building a number of architectural styles, but its masterpiece
is the Renaissance Sistine Chapel (1473-1481). Although the Sistine Chapel is an
architectural masterpiece, it is best known for its famous frescos by Sandro Botticelli,
Pietro Perugino, and the most famous painting, the Last Judgement painted
by Michelangelo on the chapel's ceiling.