Courtyard of the Belvedere

The construction of the Belvedere Courtyard was an initiative of Pope Julius II and Bramante, who wanted to connect an old papal palace on the right side of Saint Peter's. Pope Julius was a great collector of statues when he was still a Cardinal, and after his election as Pope he carried all of his collection to the Vatican. The Belvedere was one of the places that housed the Pope's many sculpture collections and started to make the place more attractive and popular.