Picture of Castel Sant’Angelo, as usual packed with tourists.
Castel Sant’Angelo (Castle of the Holy Angel) is located very close to Vatican City, It is a massive cylindrical building located on the right bank of the Tiber River, a walking distance from St Peters Square. It is a great place to capture pictures, specially you can frame iconic locations in Vatican city with Forts loopholes or embrasure.
St Peter’s Basilica
Another Framing of St Peter’s Basilica
View of Rome and Vatican City
Castel Sant’Angelo is now a famous museum, it has a long and varied history:
1. Origins as a Tomb
It was originally built between 135 and 139 AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to serve as a grand mausoleum for himself and his family. The remains of several subsequent emperors were also interred there.
2. The Papal Fortress
During the Middle Ages, its strategic location and thick walls made it an ideal defensive structure. The Popes converted it into a fortress and a castle. It famously served as a refuge for Popes during times of war or siege.
3. The Secret Passage (Passetto di Bor go)
Perhaps its most famous feature is the Passetto di Borgo, an 800-meter elevated stone corridor that connects the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace directly to the castle.
Pope Alexander VI used it to escape in 1494 during an invasion by Charles VIII of Fr ance.
Pope Clement VII famously fled through this corridor in 1527 during the Sack of Rome, while the Swiss Guard stayed behind to hold off the inv aders.
4. The Name and the Statue
The name “Sant’Angelo” comes from a legend dating to 590 AD. During a devastating plague, Pope Gregory the Great reportedly had a vision of the Archangel Michael standing on top of the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign that the plague was over. A large bronze statue of the angel still stands at the very top of the castle today.
Below are pictures of different views from top of the fort.
Canon!
Walkway to the top of fort, inside the fort.
Here are my other posts related to my Italy trip
