Cortile del Belvedere, Renaissance courtyard in Vatican City
Description
The Cortile del Belvedere connects the Vatican Palace with Villa Belvedere through a sequence of terraces bordered by architectural wings and staircases. The complex spans several levels and forms one of the major courtyards inside the Vatican Museums.
History
Architect Donato Bramante began construction in 1505, creating a design that influenced formal garden layouts throughout Western European architecture. Later modifications divided the originally unified courtyard into separate sections.
Culture
Pope Julius II established the papal sculpture collection here, featuring Roman works such as Laocoön and His Sons and Apollo from Belvedere. These statues now stand in the museums and shaped European views of ancient art since their discovery.
Practical
Access is through the Vatican Museums, which open Monday through Saturday. The terraces lie within the museum route and are visible from different galleries along the way.
Did you know?
Leo X maintained a papal menagerie here where an elephant named Hanno lived, later buried within the grounds. The animal was a diplomatic gift and drew great attention from visitors to the court.
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