Castel Sant'Angelo
Rome
On the banks of the Tiber, Castel Sant'Angelo has watched over Rome for almost two thousand years. Born as the majestic mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, it has been a fortress, a prison and a refuge for the popes. Its cylindrical bulk, crowned by the Archangel Michael, holds tales of sieges and legends. From its terrace you get one of the most spectacular views of the city.
From mausoleum to fortress
Castel Sant'Angelo was built between AD 123 and 139 as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and his family. The original structure was an enormous marble-clad cylinder, topped by a mound of earth and trees. For centuries the ashes of Roman emperors were laid to rest here, down to Caracalla.
With the fall of the Empire, the building became a fortress, part of Rome's defensive walls and guarding access to the Tiber.
The archangel and the legend
The present name comes from a legend: in AD 590, during a terrible plague, a pope is said to have seen the Archangel Michael on top of the building sheathing his sword, a sign that the epidemic was over. In memory of the vision a statue of the angel was placed on the summit; the present bronze one is by the Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt and dates from 1753.
The Passetto and the popes
One famous feature is the Passetto di Borgo, a fortified corridor about 800 metres long that links the castle to the Vatican Palaces. This secret passage allowed more than one pontiff to escape to safety, even during the Sack of Rome in 1527. Over the centuries the castle was also a papal residence and a dreaded prison, where well-known figures were locked up.
Visiting Castel Sant'Angelo
Today the castle is a national museum spanning two thousand years of history: frescoed Renaissance halls, ancient cells, armouries and courtyards. You reach it across the beautiful Ponte Sant'Angelo, adorned with statues of angels designed by Bernini. The climb to the panoramic terrace rewards you with an unrivalled view of the dome of St Peter's and the rooftops of Rome.
