Vatican Palace form one of the most magnificent monumental architectural complexes in the world. Their construction began in the XIV century to create a papal residence worthy of their high status. Originally the residence of the popes was in Lateran, then she was transferred to Avignon. Gregory XI was the first pope, who settled in the Vatican; his successors continued the expansion and improvement of the palace complex. Thus, when Pope Alexander V in 1410 was built a "corridor" linking the palace to Castel Sant'Angelo.

But the greatest contribution to the construction and the formation of a complex of luxurious palaces was introduced by Pope Nicholas V. The heart of the complex is, without doubt, a square building surrounding the courtyard Pappagallo (parrot), which worked on the creation of such famous architects like Leon Battista Alberti and Bernardo Rossellino. Niccoline Chapel dedicated Sv.Stefanu and Sv.Lorentso, decorated with frescoes by Fra Angelico.

The world-famous Sistine Chapel was established in the years 1473-1480 by Pope Sixtus IV. Its author was the architect Giovanni de Dolci, which is used for this purpose the former Palatine Chapel. Pope Innocent VIII ordered to build himself a small palace - Palazzetto, on the highest point of the Belvedere gardens. Palace got a great popularity thanks to the paintings of Andrea Mantegna, who were lost in the process of re-planning of the palace, undertaken by the architect Bramante, and later, during the construction of the Museum Pio-Clementino in the reign of Pope Pius VI.

When Pope Alexander VI had settled in the palace of Nicholas V, were re-started work on the expansion of the papal court, which culminated in the erection of the tower Borgia, named after the family, which belonged to the pope. But the most significant changes have occurred simultaneously with large-scale urban development work undertaken by Pope-philanthropist Julius II, who commissioned Bramante project for connecting palaces Nicholas V and Innocent VII. As a result of this project arose Belvedere Courtyard, which closes the prospect niche Pirro Ligorio (1560), which replaced the Exedra with two staircases, made by Bramante.

He also belongs to the project Loggias Court of San Damaso, who completed and decorated with frescoes Raphael. Thanks to these reforms facade of the papal palace is now coming to St. Peter's Square. Also during the reign of Pope Julius II, between the years 1509-1512, the frescoes of Michelangelo executed vault of the Sistine Chapel and Raphael in 1508 started the painting station (front rooms), finished the job in 1524.
After the brutal sack of Rome, which in some way suspended the implementation of an ambitious project of Julius II for the reconstruction of the city, work in the Vatican Palace was resumed by Pope Paul III, who commissioned the architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger construction Cappella Paolina, Hall and Hall Ducale Reg. Michelangelo, received an order for painting Cappella Paolina, continued to work on the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.

The heyday of the baroque coincided with the reign of Pope Sixtus V and is connected to the architect Domenico Fontana, the project which was built a modern residence of the Pope, and the Belvedere "cut through" Cross-yard (now place the Sistine Hall Library). In the XVII century by Pope Urban VIII by Bernini project began construction of the famous stairs Reg (Reg Rock) and Halls of Paolina in libraries and archives.

In the next century, great changes were made to establish the Vatican Museums. Thus arose the Museum of Church Art (Museo Sacro) and the Museum of secular art (Museo profane), adjacent to the Library; Pio-Clementino Museum, designed by Michelangelo Simonetti Giuseppe Camporese (1771-1793 gg.); Chiaramonti Museum, associated with the name of Antonio Canova (1806-1810 gg.); new building - Braccio Nuovo, according to the project by Raphael Stern by Pope Pius VII.

In the twentieth century, on the initiative of Pope Pius XII, at the Cathedral of St. Peter were conducted archaeological investigations, while Pope John XXIII initiated the construction of new rooms to house the collection of the Museum of the Lateran Palace.