Palazzo della Cancelleria

Palazzo della Cancelleria is a Renaissance palace in Rome built from travertine stone and decorated with paired pilasters and arched windows. A large courtyard surrounded by arcades forms the heart of the structure, creating a harmonious interior space that opens to multiple corridors.

A cardinal started building this palace in 1489, with construction finished roughly two decades later. A pope claimed the building in the early 1500s and made it the official seat for papal administration.

This palace serves as the working center of papal administration and shapes the neighborhood with its dignified Renaissance appearance. Walking through its courtyard, visitors encounter ancient columns that once belonged to older Roman structures, showing how Renaissance architects repurposed materials from the city's past.

The building functions as a papal office and is partially open to visitors, though some sections may have restricted access. It helps to check ahead about opening times and which rooms are accessible, since not all areas of the palace are available for public visits.

The building was partly constructed using stones from the ancient Theatre of Pompey, with original columns from that era still standing in the courtyard. This reuse of ancient materials shows how Renaissance architects wove Rome's history into their new creations.

Location: Rome

Inception: 1513

Architects: Donato Bramante

Official opening: 1513

Architectural style: Renaissance architecture

Height: 25 m

Part of: Extraterritorial properties of the Holy See, Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura

Address: Piazza della Cancelleria, 1

GPS coordinates: 41.89669,12.47152

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:08