The fresco painted in a hundred days

Inside the Palazzo della Cancelleria / Chancellery Palace is one of the great fresco cycles of 16th-century Rome: the Hall of the Hundred Days, the work of Giorgio Vasari. The name comes from a famous tradition: the enormous hall was supposedly decorated in just a hundred days. It is a triumph of monumental scenes celebrating the pontificate of Pope Paul III Farnese, a spectacular example of the official "ceremonial" painting of the High Renaissance.

Vasari and the feat of the hundred days

Giorgio Vasari — painter, architect, and celebrated author of the "Lives" of the artists — was commissioned to fresco the hall at breakneck speed. According to the anecdote (told by Vasari himself), Michelangelo, on seeing the work, remarked that you could "tell" it had been done in a hurry. True or legendary, the quip entered art history and gave the room its name: an example of fast, theatrical painting with tremendous decorative impact.

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What it depicts

The frescoes celebrate the deeds of Pope Paul III Farnese in grand allegorical and historical scenes:

  • Episodes from the pontificate and the politics of Paul III.
  • Allegories of the virtues and of good government.
  • Trompe-l'oeil architecture and quadratura that expand the space.
  • A celebratory program typical of papal ceremonial halls.

It is a work designed to impress anyone entering the palace, seat of the papal Chancellery.

How to visit it

The Hall of the Hundred Days sits inside the Palazzo della Cancelleria, an extraterritorial property of the Santa Sede / Holy See: access can be restricted and tied to tours or exhibitions (formats and hours are indicative, so check the official site or current events). It is well worth looking into, because it is one of the most spectacular rooms in the palace. For the full picture, see the complete guide to the Palazzo della Cancelleria.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Hall of the Hundred Days? A vast hall in the Palazzo della Cancelleria frescoed by Giorgio Vasari, who — according to tradition — painted it in just a hundred days, hence the name. It celebrates the pontificate of Paul III.

Why is it called that? Because Vasari is said to have frescoed it in a hundred days; that speed is also behind the famous anecdote about Michelangelo's comment.

What does it depict? The deeds and allegories of the pontificate of Pope Paul III Farnese, in grand monumental scenes with trompe-l'oeil architecture: a celebratory ceremonial cycle.

Can it be visited? Access is generally restricted (property of the Santa Sede / Holy See) and tied to tours or exhibitions. Check current events and conditions.

Who was Vasari? Giorgio Vasari, a 16th-century painter and architect, also famous as the author of the "Lives" of the artists, a cornerstone of art history.

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Article #616 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026