The Raphael Rooms

The Raphael Rooms are a series of previous Papal apartments which are now loacted in the Vatican Museums. They are named after the Renaissance painter Raphael Sanzio who painted three of the four rooms now visible to the public.

In 1508 Pope Julius II commissioned Italy's best painters to decorate a series of rooms upstairs in the Apostolic Palace. Julius refused to sleep in the Borgia Apartments where his predecessor Pope Alexander VI Borgia had slept.

Initially Raphael was a minor name. Upon seeing his work, the Pope entrusted the entire project to Raphael and he brought in his own assistants to help him carry out the work.

The project took 16 years to complete (1508 to 1524) and spanned two Popes (Julius II and Leo X). Unfortunately, Raphael died in 1520 on his 37th birthday meaning the last room, the Hall of Constantine, had to be painted by his assistants Giulio Romano and Giovanni Francesco Penni.

Another commission started in 1508 was the Sistine Chapel ceiling which would hugely influence Raphael's style. Raphael and Michelangelo were rivals for work and disliked each other personally although Raphael came to respect Michelangelo's painting talent once the chapel was unveiled in 1512.

There are four rooms in the Raphael Stanze and each room has four wall paintings and a ceiling.

The Hall of Constantine, a reception hall, showing scenes from the life of the first Christian Emperor, incluing The Room of Heliodorous, a more private meeting room showing The Room of the Signature, a study where important documents were signed shows The Room of the Fire in the Borgo, used as a dinning and music room, showing The Raphael Rooms take about 20 or 30 minutes to view (or as long as you like) and would suit those who are interested in Renaissance frescos. I recommend doing them if your tour takes place in the morning.
They are entirely optional and photos are allowed without flash.
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