Vist and discover Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome

An impressive monument, striking, full of charm and history ...What is it? It’s Castel Sant’Angelo, of course: one of the most beloved and visited monuments in Rome.

Not far from St. Peter's Square, at the right bank of the Tiber river, just at the end of the bridge with the same name, stands the majestic fortress whose history is deeply linked to the eternal city.

GUIDED TOUR SKIP THE LINE IN CASTEL SANT'ANGELO

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HISTORY?

Castel Sant’Angelo has not always looked as it does today. Over the years, it has undergone multiple changes, serving different functions.

Wanted by the emperor Hadrian as his own funeral mausoleum, the castle was initially designed by architect Demetrian around 125 B.C. and then completed by Antoninus Pius in 139 B.C. Originally it consisted of a huge cylinder covered with tuff and marble, at the center of which was a smaller cylinder completely covered with travertine. Above, there was a mound of earth surrounded by many sculptures and, at the top, a bronze quadriga with the emperor Hadrian depicted in the role of Sun God.

In 271 B.C. the emperor Aureliano transformed the building into a castle and built walls, from which St. Peter's door was opened, allowing the connection with the apostle's tomb. In the 11th century the tower was added. When in 1277 the fortress passed under the ownership of the Vatican, it became an impregnable garrison of the Catholic Church. Later, the Papal Apartments were built.

In 1277 Pope Nicholas III ordered the construction of an elevated passage known as "passetto di Borgo" or "il corridore" (the “runner”) for the Romans. It is an 800-meter long corridor that links the Vatican Walls with Castel Sant'Angelo, which has served as a quick and safe escape route in several dramatic events. Pope Alexander VI Borgia used it to visit the castle's prison, while Pope Clement VII (Giulio de' Medici) used it in 1527 to escape during the sack of Rome by the lansquenets of Charles V.

In 2000, on the occasion of the Great Jubilee, the "passetto" was renovated and today you can visit it by appointment.

CASTEL SANT'ANGELO'S MUSEUM

The fortress has hosted the National Museum of Castel Sant' Angelo since 1925. Here you can find collections of art and history as well as relics of the Italian Army.

The museum reflects the different and changing uses of the building and can be considered, at the same time, a monument, an archaeological site and a museum. The exhibition boasts a large collection of sculptures, paintings, marble finds, weapons, furniture and various objects. 

In order to organize the visit at your best, please read the information box at the bottom of this page. 

CURIOSITY

There are many stories and legends about Castel Sant'Angelo. First of all, we want to mention the legend about its name.

At the end of the sixth century A.D., a terrible plague fell upon Rome. In an atmosphere of chaos and famine, Pope Gregory I led a procession through the city, praying for God to intervene. Legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared, sheathing his sword. It was the 29th of August 590 A.D. and from that moment the plague ended. That’s why the fortress was named “Castel Sant’Angelo”.

The statue on the top commemorates this story. It has changed over the centuries: the current bronze version, which replaced an older one, was made by the sculptor Pierre van Verschaffelt in 1700s and was restored between 1983 and 1986.

The stories about the castle don’t end here! Another one is about Beatrice Cenci, a girl sentenced to death by Pope Clement VIII for killing her father (who had tortured and beaten her up for years). Beatrice was beheaded on Ponte Sant'Angelo square. Since then, her soul wanders unable to find peace: it is said that her ghost, with head tucked under the arm, continues to visit the site of her execution on its anniversary every year.

Castel Sant'Angelo was also a prison where the Papal States' dissidents were confined. Many “famous” people you certainly know were imprisoned there: the humanists Platina and Julius Pomponius Laetus; the philosopher Giordano Bruno, considered eretic by the Church and sentenced to death for his revolutionary theories; some Italian patriots during the Italian unification; the goldsmith and sculputor Benvenuto Cellini (but it seems that he managed to escape, climbing down the external latrine with a rope).

We stop here, but we are sure that Castel Sant'Angelo has already seduced you with its magical atmosphere. An absolute symbol of Rome, a place where history overlaps legend, a not-to-be-missed stop in your visit to the eternal city.

Tell us about your experience and, as usual, write your comments in the box below. Any suggestions are welcome!

CASTEL SANT'ANGELO TERRACE EXPRESS TOUR