The Pope's Most Expensive Carriage

The Vatican Museum shows a number of papal carriages but the most stunning exhibit has to be the Grand Gala Berlin Carriage (Vatican Museum cat, #45551). The Grand Gala Carriage was built in Rome in 1826 for Pope Leo XII by Felice Eugeni. Cost, including fitting, is said to have been around 26,000 scudos and was reported to be the most expensive sovereign carriage of the time. The carriage is made of wood with inlays of painted gold leaves. In 1841Pope Gregory XVI had a pontifical tiara, carried by two cherubs, added to the front. In 1997 the Vatican Post Office issued a set of stamps showing various papal carriages and automobiles (Scott #1028 - 1037). Scott number 1032 specifically pictured the Grand Gala Berlin Carriage. There was also an associated booklet of stamps issued (Scott #1032a). References • Thomas I.Crimando, Papal Carriage And Automobiles Volume 46 Issue 3 1997 Page 1 • Pietro Amato, Carriage Pavilion, General Guide To The Vatican City, Pages 436-437, Jaca Books, Copyright 2012