MUSEI DELLA BIBLIOTECA APOSTOLICA

On leaving the Sistine Chapel, you enter the gallery of the Apostolic Library, to be distinguished from the library itself, which is only accessible to researchers.

Pius IX's message room. This room was built in 1877 to store messages sent to Pius IX from all over the world.

Chapel of Saint Pius V. The frescoes are by Pirro Ligorio and date from the late 16th century, based on drawings by Vasari.

Message room. Messages addressed to Popes Leo XIII and Pius X were kept here. Today it houses a collection of Roman and early Christian glassware, as well as religious objects from various ancient and modern periods.

Salle des noces Aldobrandines. This early 17th-century room, decorated with frescoes by Guido Reni depicting the life of Samson, owes its name to the ancient ancient fresco displayed at its center. It was painted by Aetione under Augustus in the 2nd century, based on an earlier Greek original.

Papyrus Room. Completed at the end of the 18th century under the pontificate of Pius VI, this room is remarkable for the quality of its mural frescoes and, above all, its Egyptian-inspired ceiling.

Sacred museum. This room was built under Benedict XIV. Stefano Pozzi's vault praises faith and the Church in their triumph.

Galerie d'Urbain VIII. Bronze bells from the 13th-century Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Mary Major, and a series of terrestrial and celestial globes.

Sixtine Rooms. These date back to Sixtus V. The lunettes above the doors are decorated with 16th-century frescoes by Cesare Nebbia and Giovanni Guerra.

Great Sistine Hall. The vaulted ceilings of this great hall and the two preceding halls are signed by Giovanni Guerra and Cesare Nebbia.

From this same room, you can access the store of the Vatican Secret Archivesthis is where you'll find casts of the seals and facsimiles of documents kept by this department of the Holy See.

The Pauline Rooms. These two rooms are also adorned with historically remarkable frescoes in the lunettes painted by Giovanni Battista.

Alexandrine Room. The lunettes of the frescoes represent the major events in the life of Pius VI.

Clementine Room. Clement XII converted this room in the mid-18th century to house another private library purchased by the pope. The decoration dates from 1818, and the frescoes on the lunettes depict the major events in the life of Pius VII.