Overview:

: The Raphael Rooms, or Stanze di Raffaello, are a suite of four reception rooms in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. All four rooms are famous for their frescoes, which were painted by Raphael and his workshop. The works in the rooms are considered some of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art. The Stanze were originally intended as the private reception rooms of Pope Julius II, and the works were meant to be a fusion of painting and architecture, creating a unified aesthetic experience for visitors. The Raphael Rooms have since become a popular tourist attraction, with visitors from all over the world coming to admire the artworks. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

1. The Stanza della Segnatura: This room, originally the room wherein Popes would grant legal documents, was painted by Raphael and his students between 1508 and 1511. It is decorated with frescoes showing, among other subjects, the School of Athens, representing philosophy; the Parnassus, celebrating poetry; and the Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, an important part of the Counter-Reformation in the Catholic church. 2. The Stanza di Eliodoro: This octagonal-shaped room allows natural light to enter into the frescoed walls via a window looking out onto the Vatican gardens. On the walls and ceiling Raphael painted vivid scenes depicting important episodes in the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul. 3. The Sala Regia: Elaborately decorated with papal symbols, the walls and ceiling of this room portray historical events from the papal court, including the Donation of Constantine, the visit of Emperor Henry II, and the iconoclastic riots in Byzantium. 4. The Sala del Concistoro: This chamber is decorated with Raphael's version of the Spanish tapestry The Triumph of Constantine, as well as a frescoed ceiling depicting the Flights into Egypt, which is complimented by scenes from the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel surrounding its grand window. 5. The Stanza di Constatino: This room, widely known from its depictions in films like The Agony and the Ecstasy, has a ceiling that was painted both by Raphael and the Pre-Raphaelite painter Sodoma. The room is dominated by an apse painting featuring Constantine's battle against Maxentius, which is set off by smaller scenes depicting the life of Christ. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Raphael Rooms is a suite of four reception rooms located within the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City. They decorated by the Renaissance artist Raphael for Pope Julius II from 1508 to 1520. The artwork in the rooms includes some of the most renowned Renaissance frescoes in the world, which depict the life of the composer, singer, and poet, Virgil. The rooms are now used for papal receptions, state receptions, and other meetings by heads of state and other dignitaries. The history of the Raphael Rooms dates back to 1477, when Pope Sixtus IV began renovations to the Belvedere Palace at the Vatican. He had the architect Baccio Pontelli draw up plans for the palace, which included four apartments at the highest point of the palace. In 1508, Pope Julius II decided to decorate the apartments, and hired the artist Raphael to fresco the walls. Raphael chose to focus the artwork around the life of the poet Virgil, to reflect the respect Julius held for the ancient Roman culture. Over the next 10 years, Raphael crafted six stanze (rooms) in the palace. These rooms are now known as the Raphael Rooms. The largest room is the Stanza della Segnatura, and this is where Raphael also painted the renowned School of Athens fresco. The room also includes the Disputa, where frescos depict the creation of the world. The second largest room is the Stanza di Eliodoro, which includes the Blessing of Constantine and the Battle of Ostia. The third room, called the Stanza dell’Incendio di Borgo, is decorated with frescos that depict Moses and other religious characters. The fourth and final room, the Stanza di Foljelo de’ Gioconda, includes the marriage of Alexander the Great and the Tooth-Puller of Asa. Though these frescos were not completed until 1519/1520, they are believed to be some of the earliest works of Raphael. Today, the Raphael Rooms are open to visitors and are used for papal receptions, state receptions, and other meetings by heads of state and other dignitaries. They are some of the most important works of the Renaissance, as they depict some of the most celebrated art of the period. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

1. The ten Raphael Rooms are the epitome of the High Renaissance style in Rome. They were frescoed by Raphael and his workshop between 1509 and 1511 as part of Pope Julius II’s private apartments. 2. The Raphael Rooms are now visited by throngs of visitors each day, as part of the Vatican Museums. The rooms are considered among the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art. 3. The ten rooms were each frescoed with a different subject, based on the teachings of antiquity and the Renaissance. These include philosophy, religion, and mythology. 4. All of the rooms feature Raphael’s iconic figures, such as his famous School of Athens. These figures have inspired many artists to this day, including Michelangelo and Rubens. 5. The Raphael Rooms were originally the private apartments of Pope Julius II from 1509. After Julius’s death in 1513, the rooms were used by other popes until Clement XIV moved them to the Vatican Museums in the late 1700s. 6. In order to commission the rooms’ frescoes, Pope Julius invited Raphael to spend three years in the Vatican. During this time, Raphael was also appointed court painter and architect of the Vatican, further cementing his reputation. 7. The Raphael Rooms were originally used as a place for entertaining, but they were also used for studying and reflection. 8. Each of the ten rooms contain numerous frescoes, all of which were painted by Raphael and his workshop. The scenes on the walls depict stories from ancient mythology, many of which were popular during the Renaissance. 9. One of the most famous paintings in the Raphael Rooms is The School of Athens, which features all of the major figures of Ancient Greek thought. 10. The frescoes in the Raphael Rooms are in remarkably good condition, despite their age. They have been carefully maintained and restored throughout the centuries, ensuring that future generations can enjoy them in their fullest glory. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.