Statue of Christ in the Second Loggia of Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) at the Apostolic Palace; Vatican (2014) (Palais Apostolique - Loges de Raphael)The loggia; or colonnaded porch; on the second story of the Apostolic Palace is one of the Vatican's most remarkable art treasures; its decoration; designed by Raphael (1483-1520) and executed by his workshop in 1517-19; epitomizes the spirit of the Italian Renaissance in its synthesis of Christian and classical themes. Meanwhile; the plasterwork of the other architectural elements is decorated with grotesques fanciful arabesques enlivened with a wide variety of human and animal figures modeled after ancient Roman wall paintings.-The grandiose and solemn Apostolic Palace is a secretive place; forbidden to the public and jealously guarded by the Swiss Guard. It hosts the Holy See administration; the Church's spiritual authorities and before all; the apartments of the Pontiff Sovereign.