Castel Sant’Angelo started its existence as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian and his relatives.
At present, after having served, in the course of the centuries, as fortress, hiding place for popes and prison, it houses the Museo di Castel Sant’Angelo.
Construction of the castle took form the year 135 until the year 139. Hadrian himself, his wife and his adopted son Lucius Aurelius, were buried there while construction was still going on, in the year 138. After that the urns of all the Emperors were place in the mausoleum, probably in what is at present the Treasury. The last Emperor to be buried there was Caracalla (217).
In the beginning of the 5th century Augustus’ mausoleum was transformed into a fortress and ind incorporated in the Aurelian Walls. A couple of decades later the Visigoths led by Alaric attacked and plundered the castle and destroyed the urns containing the emperors’ ashes.
One of the most imprtant features of the castle at the time was the quadriga, a golden chariot, which was however destroyed when it was used to defend the castle by throwing it on top of the attacking Goths.
In the year 590 Castel Sant’Angelo got its present name, when to indicate the end of an epidemic of the Plague the Archangel Saint Michael appeared on top of the castle and put his sword back into its sheath. There are people who think this is just a legend and did not really happen.
Whether or not this really took place, a year later a marble statue of Saint Michael made by Montelupo was placed on top of the castle. Nowadays this statue can be seen in the castle’s courtyard, whereas the one on the roof is a bronze copy made by the Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt.
In the meantime, by orders of the Pope, the fortress had been transformed into a castle and the Passetto del Borgo had been constructed, a passage connecting the Castel Sant’Angelo to Saint Peter’s and meant serve as an escape route for the Pope in case of an attack on the Vatican. Still later a luxury apartment was built inside the castle, so that the Pope would lack nothing during a siege.
When the castle was transformed into a prison, a.o. Giordano Bruno was held there for 6 years.
At present the castle houses a museum, the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo. The bridge across the Castel Sant’Angelo, though constructed by Hadrian, also got the name Ponte Sant’Angelo.
Castel Sant’Angelo Practical Information
| Address | Lungotevere Castello, 50 |
| District | Rome historical center rione Borgo |
| Hotels nearby | Rome B&B's and hotels near Castel Sant'Angelo |
| Telephone | +39 066819111 |
| Opening Hours | 9 AM - 7.30 PM |
| Closed | Mondays; January 1, December 25 |
| Admission | Museum: 5 Euros (concessions 3 Euros), Roma Pass included. |
| Public transport | Bus: 62, 64. |
| Special Holidays/Events | None. |
| Note | The view from the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo is one of the most beautiful ones in Rome. |
Directions to the Castel Sant’Angelo
Take bus 64 from Roma Termini and get off when you cross the river.