Vatican Apostolic Archive, Vatican City

Although the Vatican Secret Archives has been repeatedly mystified by popular culture, it is not as illusory as its name. Many people speculated that the Vatican holds many secrets, which are hidden away in the Vatican Apostolic Archive in the Cortile del Belvedere, Vatican City. Thousands of manuscripts and official documents are kept and restored in this place, like a compendium of world history written over the past eight centuries.

By definition, the Pope holds all authority and is considered the owner of the whole archive. Only a select number of people are allowed to visit the Vatican Apostolic Archive. People with a specialty in history or are doing significant research about the church would need to apply to gain access to some of the Vatican’s records. Certainly, the place has a really advanced level of safety similar to a high-end home security system.