Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss, Catholic chapel near St. Peter's Square, Vatican City.
Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss is a Mannerist chapel located near St. Peter's Square featuring a facade with four Doric columns. The small building measures 12 meters long and 9 meters wide, representing a compact but refined example of religious architecture from its era.
Pope Pius V commissioned the chapel in 1568 for the Pontifical Swiss Guards, who had served the pope since 1506; Nanni di Baccio Bigio directed the construction behind the bastion of Nicholas V. Until the 1648 Peace of Westphalia the German-speaking guards gathered at Santa Maria della Pietà in Campo Santo Teutonico, and from 1657 to 1977 they used San Pellegrino in Vaticano. In 1999 the building was enlarged and its orientation changed, so the original facade became the right side, with a new choir loft and presbytery.
The chapel serves as a spiritual center for the Swiss Guard members who are stationed in the Vatican, hosting their personal religious celebrations and gatherings. It remains an active place of worship where daily routines and important life events of the guard are marked.
Access to this chapel is limited to Swiss Guard members and authorized visitors, so check availability before planning a visit. The location within Vatican City's restricted areas means typical tourist access is not regularly permitted.
The interior once displayed striking frescoes painted by Giulio Mazzoni, which were carefully removed and relocated to the Vatican Museums in 1967 for safekeeping. This decision to preserve the artwork reflects the Vatican's commitment to protecting its artistic heritage.
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