Palazzo dei Papi
Perched on the edge of Viterbo's ancient quarter, this 13th-century papal palace is one of the best-preserved Gothic civic buildings in all of Italy. It was the seat of the papacy for nearly a quarter-century and still radiates the raw authority of the medieval Church.
A Palace That Changed Papal History
The Palazzo dei Papi was built between 1255 and 1266 and served as the residence of seven popes who fled the political chaos of Rome. Its elegant open loggia — five graceful arches overlooking Piazza San Lorenzo — is the defining image of Viterbo and appears on almost every postcard of the city.
It was here in 1268 that the longest conclave in Church history began, lasting nearly three years before Gregory X was finally elected in 1271. The cardinals were literally locked in and their food rations cut to speed up the decision — giving us the word 'conclave' from the Latin 'cum clave', meaning 'with a key'.
Inside the Great Hall
The Aula del Conclave is the highlight of any visit: a vast, bare stone hall where you can almost hear the arguments of medieval cardinals echoing off the walls. Fragments of original frescoes and carved papal coats of arms survive, giving the space an austere, authentic gravity.
The adjoining Cattedrale di San Lorenzo shares the same dramatic piazza and houses the Madonna della Carbonara, a venerated Byzantine icon. Together the cathedral and palace form one of the most cohesive medieval ensembles in central Italy.
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