Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

This was originally built to house the tomb of Hadrian and his successors. It was later converted into a fortress, and in the 1200's Nicholas II connected it to the Vatican via a safety passage. This foresight saved Clement VII as he fled German mercenaries pillaging the Vatican for the safety of Sant Angelo in the 1500's. The Castel offers great views of the Vatican from its viewing platform.

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Castel St. Angelo
More detail and photos on Vatican Travelogue page (now there are 2 travelogues - I got carried away.....). Also, Vatican Things To Do - Castle Sant Angelo. There is much to see and do here and many features that are not publicized, such as the very small bagno (found completely intact) painted by Rafaele and so very difficult to find within the Castel walls - the more savvy staff can direct you.

Brief History

135 AD. Emperor Hadrian began this family vault, unfinished when he died three years later.

139. Emperor Antoninus Pius completed it and for almost three-quarters of a century, from Hadrian to Septimius Severus, it was the repository for the emperors' ashes.

590. During a procession to stop the plague, Pope Gregory the Great saw a vision of the Archangel Michael sheathing his sword at the top of the mausoleum. The Pope promised that if God stopped the plague, he would build a memorial to the Archangel. The plague stopped and Gregory kept his vow. The Baroque angel soaring above the castle commemorates that.

Middle Ages. For a thousand years the Popes used this structure as Rome's Citadel and dungeon in their continuous struggle against the feudal barons and the Holy Roman Emperors. They raised defensive fortifications and added watchtowers at the corners, named after the four Evangelists.

Renaissance. The great Popes topped the Castello with a chapel by Michelangelo, loggias by Bramante and Antonio Sangallo Jr., paintings from the school of Raphael, a theater-court and a papal hot tub.

1752. The bronze sculpture of St. Michael the Archangel by the Flemish artist Peter Verschaffelt was installed at the top, replacing a Renaissance marble angel, now in the Courtyard of the cannonballs, where we attend concerts.

As the medieval popes weren`t exactly popular with the locals and regularly got into feuds with other european rulers like the german emperors, the french kings or the sicilian normans, it was a wise decision to use the Castel St. Angelo as their personal stronghold. Even in case of a revolution or a foreign invasion, the popes were able to defend themselves effectively in the impregnable Castel St. Angelo.

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We spent an afternoon here as we didn't have time to see it last year when I was on my "Angels and Demons" location tour. We walked up the internal ramp before I decided that I needed the loo and had to walk all the way down again. (Tip ladies.. No loo's past those near the entrance!!) Anyhoo.. Great views of the city and St Peters, lovely cool breeze, well worth the climb.

emperor hadrian ruled rome during the height of the roman empire. hadrian's mausoleum was built it 139AD. in the middle ages it was converted into a fortress to protect the pope. at one time it was part of emperor aurelian's city wall. it also served as a prison and the residence of popes during times of political unrest. there is a museum in the citadel that covers it's history. closed mondays.

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This castle is a most interesting side trip right outside the Vatican. It was only around 5 Euro to get in but the views alone were worth it. Facinating art work housed inside. But my favorite part was the mini bridge inside.

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The Castel Sant'Angelo was orginally commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The popes later converted the structure into a fortress (from the 14th century) where a covered fortified corridor called the Passetto di Borgo connected St. Peter's Basilica and the Castle. This fortress was used a refuge by Pope Clement VII during the siege sometime in 1527. Most of the original decorations were lost due to the conversion of the structure to a military fortress. However a richly appointed apartment was built to make sure the pope has an appropriate place to stay in when a new siege occurs. Sant'Angelo was also used by the Papal state as a prison.

If you come from St Peter's Basilica, just walk to the Castle straight from the square. You will not miss the Ponte Sant'Angelo with its angel sculptures on the sides. Later in the morning the bridge will be full of street vendors and tourists so that will make your pictures a bit busy but that's fine. I didn't go inside though (as I was not really that interested) but maybe you'd like to go in.

If you're ready to leave the castle, just continue to the other side of the bridge (left bank of Tiber) and walk towards the next bridge to your left - the Ponte Umberto 1. You will get one of the prettiest photo opportunity while in Rome.

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The Saint Angel Castle dates back to the roman period (however strongly transformed) and over centuries it has served as a fortress, prison and last but not least as a shelter for Popes in case of hostile army attacks. It is connected with the Vatican by a secret tunnel. That's how the Popes were able to escape.