The Vatican

The Vatican at Rome is a collection of buildings erected at various times and for different purposes, consisting of the papal residence, a library, and a museum.

The first residence of the popes was erected by St. Symmachus (498-514). This ancient palace, having fallen into decay during the twelfth century, was rebuilt in the thirteenth by Innocent III., and greatly enlarged by Nicholas III. (1277-1281); but the Lateran continued to be the papal residence; and the Vatican palace was used only on state occasions, and for the reception of any foreign sovereigns visiting Rome.

While the popes resided in Avignon, France, 1309 to 1377, the Lateran palace fell into decay: and, for the sake of greater security afforded by the vicinity of the fortress of St. Angelo, it was determined to make the pontifical residence at the Vatican; and the first conclave was held there in 1378. The length of the Vatican palace is 1,151 English feet; its breadth, 767 feet. It has eight grand staircases, twenty courts, and is said to contain eleven thousand apartments of different sizes.

The small portion of the Vatican inhabited by the Pope is never seen except by those who are admitted to a special audience. Two hundred and fifty-five popes are reckoned from St. Peter to Pio IX. inclusive. The library of the Vatican was founded by the early popes, but greatly augmented in modern times. It is the oldest and most celebrated library in Europe.

The noble hall is of splendid architectural proportions, surrounded by an immense double gallery, the whole adorned with frescoes, busts, statues, and columns; but no books or manuscripts are to be seen,--they are all enclosed in cabinets of painted wood. The number of printed books does not exceed thirty or forty thousand; but the collection of manuscripts is the finest in Europe, and is said to amount to upwards of twenty-five thousand.

The Museum of Art is the finest in the world. Among its paintings are several of the most famous paintings of the old masters: it contains also ten thousand pieces of statuary, yet so ample is the space that in nowhere appears crowded.