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SAINT ANGEL CASTLE IN ROME

Castel Sant’Angelo is located along side the river Tevere (Tiber) and within view of the Vatican. It is formerly the main fortress of Papal Court. Construction began in 135 as the mausoleum to hold the tombs of Emperor Hadrian and his family. It was completed by his heir Antonio the Pious. The monument consisted of a stone square basement of 80 meters each side, upon which there was a cylindrical wall 20 meters high, on whose top there was a heap of earth ending with the statue of the emperor. During Middle Ages the popes steadily altered it into a fortress, building upon the cylinder a new stone floor with the crenulations upon the surrounding walls. They built also the fortified passage connecting to the Vatican palaces.

After the ill-famed Sack of Rome made by Lansquenet in 1527, a private apartment was arranged inside the castle to be used as refuge for the Pope and his Court in case of another invasion. Still today, the apartment shows a great contrast between the military exterior and the refined interiors. The fortress hosted also the prisons. The castle took its name under the reign of pope Gregorius Magnus in the VI century when, during a heavy epidemic of plague that hit Rome, on top of the fortress appeared an angel who sheathed his sword: this image was interpreted as a good sign for the end of God's punishment.

- Where is the St Angel Castle : It is located on the banks of the Tiber close to the Vatican
- How to get to the St Angel Castle: By underground, the nearest stop is Lepanto (Line A)