Castel Sant'Angelo
A papal fortress that began as the tomb of Emperor Hadrian and is linked to Vatican City by a secret passage. Its top-floor terrace is a classic spot for views of St. Peter's dome and the Tiber.
Castel Sant'Angelo was begun in AD 123–139 as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian and his family. In the Middle Ages it became a fortress and a refuge for popes. It is linked to the Vatican by an 800-metre elevated secret corridor, the Passetto. During the Sack of Rome in 1527, Pope Clement VII escaped to the castle through this passage. Its name comes from a legend that in 590 Pope Gregory I saw the Archangel Michael sheathe his sword above the castle, a sign that the plague was over. The bronze angel on top was placed there to commemorate this. The visiting route winds up an ancient Roman spiral ramp and passes the papal Renaissance apartments, which have fine frescoes; the prisons, where Cagliostro and Cellini were once held; the armoury; and the reception hall of Pope Paul III. It ends at the top-floor Terrace of the Angel, with 360-degree views of St. Peter's dome, the Ponte Sant'Angelo over the Tiber and the historic centre of Rome. Sunset is especially beautiful, and it was from here that Tosca, the heroine of Puccini's opera, leaps to her death. Tickets cost about €15–16, including a booking fee. They can be reserved online and are free on the first Sunday of each month. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the visit. In summer, the castle stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings. In front of the castle, the Ponte Sant'Angelo is lined with ten angel statues designed by Bernini. This is the classic vantage point for photographing the castle and St. Peter's dome, and it is also the route most people take on foot from the historic centre to the Vatican. Take Metro Line A to Lepanto or Ottaviano, a 10-minute walk, or it is about a 15-minute walk from Piazza Navona. The castle is closed on Mondays. Inside, there are many ramps and steps. The gardens and lawns outside the walls are free to enter and are a good place to rest.
Opening hours
09:00–19:30 (closed Mondays; last entry 18:30)
Nearby sights
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza Navona
- Campo de' Fiori
- Ara Pacis Museum
- Mausoleum of Augustus
- Pantheon
- Vatican Museums
- Janiculum Hill