 Castel
Sant'Angelo also known
Mausoleo Adriano |
CASTEL
SANT'ANGELO OR ADRIANO'S MAUSOLEUM
Castel Sant'Angelo also known as Adriano's Mausoleum is a splendid
ancient build of imperial epoque (II century A.D.) that stays
in front of the Tiber River not far from Vatican State and St.
Peter's Basilica.
It's the second monument for number of visits yearly after the
Colosseum
and the fifth of the entire Italy.
THE HISTORY OF CASTEL SANT'ANGELO
Emperor Adriano (117-138), died 62 years old with inexpressible
sufferings, wanted to be commemorated here, on the other shore
of Tevere, outside of the city walls.
The original building was built in 139 A.D. and it carried for
long time the original name Mausoleo Adriano till the terrible
plague that tormented Rome in 585. In those days Gregorio Il Grande,
later become Pope, ordered to Romans to make a procession till
San Pietro's Basilica but when the dying procession passed before
the Mausoleo Adriano, Gregorio who was leaading it saw an angel
on the top of the Mausoleum who was replacing his sword in the
sheat. This vision immediately was interpreted as a God's sign
for the imminent end of the plague that in fact happened. From
that day on, the building changed its name in Castel Sant'Angelo
and an estatue representing the good angel can be seen nowadays
on the top of it.
In the centuries the building changed a lot of times destination
of use having been a tower for observation of the Aurelian wall
since 271 A. D., a jail and the Popes' residence in case of danger
as it happened in 1527 during the Sack of Rome. For this reason
a secret corridor joining the building to San Pietro was built
in 1277 to allow a flight to the Pope in case of attack.
Nowadays Castel Sant'Angelo is an interesting museum opens every
day but mondays illustrating the history of the building. Many
rooms are frescoed by Renaissance artists as Domenico Zaga and
Perin del Vaga (worthy of a visit is the Sala Paolina). The room
where probably Emperor Adriano was buried was converted in the
"treasure room" in 1586 by Pope Sisto V who put the
Vatican wealth inside a huge wooden trunk still visible today.
The top terrace offers to the visitor the suggestion of the angel
besides an amazing view of Rome and an unforgettable sunset on
San Pietro's Church.
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THE VISIT
How to get to Castel Sant'Angelo
- by metro: line A Lepanto stop or Ottaviano-San Pietro stop.
- by bus: lines 62, 23, 271, 982, 280 (Piazza Pia stop); line
40 (Piazza Pia stop); line 34 (Via di Porta Castello stop); lines
49, 87, 926, 990 (Piazza Cavour stop or via Crescenzio stop);
lines 64, 46 (Santo Spirito stop).
Opening hours: Daily from
Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. Friday from 9 a.m.
to 10 p.m. The box-office closes 1 hour before. Closed on Monday
and Jan 1st, May 1st, Dec 25th.
Tickets: Full
10.50 €.
Reduced 7 € (European Union citizens between
18 and 25 years old; - European Union teachers of State schools
only by showing valid membership card).
Free for European Union citizens under 18 - ICOM
members (only by showing valid membership card) - European Union
school groups, upon reservation. - European Union students and
teachers in Architecture, History of Arts only by showing valid
membership card. - Journalists only by showing valid membership
card).
Free for everyone the first sunday of every month.
Telephone: +39.06.6819111/6896003
Official Web site: Castel
Sant'Angelo |
View
from the top terrace
View
from the top terrace