Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri, Baroque parish church in Vatican City.
Sant'Anna dei Palafrenieri is a church building with an elliptical floor plan and eight side chapels arranged around the central altar space. Large arches frame the main altar area and give the interior its distinctive structure.
Construction started in 1565 under Pope Pius IV, with architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola designing it for the Archconfraternity of Pontifical Grooms. This early beginning shaped what the place has remained throughout the centuries.
The interior walls display shades of blue, cream, and gray, with marble work that guides your eye around the space. The side chapels create small pockets of calm throughout the church where visitors can pause and observe.
Access is through Porta Sant'Anna gate, one of the main entrances to Vatican City, which makes reaching it straightforward. Visitors should note that regular opening times apply and access is available during certain hours of the day.
This is the only public place of worship within Vatican City and serves as the official parish church for residents living there. The fact that this small house of prayer is the sole such place for thousands makes it special in unexpected ways.
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