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 1841, Pope 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). Click on the Page 2 button below to read about the 1997 definitive issue "Papal Carriages and Automobiles", which includes a look at ten carriages and automobiles used to transport the pope during the last three centuries. REFERENCES: Thomas I.Crimando, Vatican Notes, Volume 46, Issue 3, page 1, 1997, Papal Carriages And Automobiles Pietro Amato, Carriage Pavilion, General Guide To The Vatican City, Pages 436-437, Jaca Books, 2012 Photos from the personal collection of Marvin Lanahan, used with permission