Apostolic Palace

The Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope within Vatican City, though Pope Francis notably chose to reside instead in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse since his election in 2013. Previous popes, including John Paul II and Benedict XVI, lived in the Apostolic Palace's private papal apartments.

The Apostolic Palace contains some of the world's most important Renaissance artworks, including Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and 'The Last Judgment' in the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms decorated by Raphael and his workshop. The palace also houses the Borgia Apartment and the Vatican Library's vast manuscript collections.

Visitors can access certain areas of the Apostolic Palace, including the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, and the Vatican Museums that are housed within the complex. However, the Pope's private apartments and other working areas of the palace are not open to the public.

The Apostolic Palace contains approximately 1,400 rooms including chapels, museums, offices, and residential quarters spread across multiple connected buildings. In addition to the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, the complex includes the Vatican Library, the Apostolic Archives, and the papal apartments.