It is believed that the construction of the Palazzo Venezia took place around 1455. The residence of the Venetian Cardinal Pietro Barbi by 1564, it was home to the ambassadors of the Republic of Venice. Barbi had become Cardinal to the church of St. Peter’s in 1451 and decided to build his palace beside the church. Construction of the first palace was completed shortly before his election to the Papacy in 1464 when he adopted the name Paul II. In 1916 it was confiscated by the state of Italy who decided to make it the Palazzo Venezia museum.