Just east of the Vatican City, Italy lies Parco Adriano, home to Castel Sant’Angelo. In a city like Rome, brimming with history and culture, Castel Sant’Angelo is often overlooked by tourists. A tourist visiting a foreign country usually believes that they should only visit the most famous spots of a city; little do they know that Castel Sant’Angelo was once the tallest building in Rome and is still a priceless site to behold.
History
When thinking of a Roman emperor, Julius Caesar is usually the first to come to mind. In fact, many Roman emperors ruled the city over the years, and although he may not have been as famous as Julius Caesar, Emperor Hadrian ruled the city in the early A.D. era. Hadrian was the 14th emperor of the Roman Empire and reigned until his death in 138 A.D. Along with assisting to rebuild the Pantheon in Rome, Hadrian wanted to build a mausoleum for himself and his family. For most of Hadrian’s adult life, he wanted power more than anything and would stop at nothing to achieve it. He was the most versatile of all the Roman emperors, which helped maintain his appeal among the people. Hadrian wanted his legacy to continue even after his death and the death of his family. In the end, the mausoleum was not completed at the time of Hadrian’s demise, therefore he was moved twice before finally resting at Castel Sant’Angelo.
The mausoleum was construction between 134 and 139 A.D. The name of this castel translates into Saint Angelo and was named after the Archangel Michael. It is now the final resting place of Hadrian’s ashes as well as those of his wife and his adoptive son, Lucius. Over the years after Hadrian's death, other emperors and nobles were also laid to rest in this castel. In 401 A.D., it was used as a military fortress, which lead to the destruction of parts of it. Due to the constant attack on the city of Rome, the artifacts and urns placed in the castel, including that of Hadrian, were thought to have been destroyed, but it appears to have since been recovered and now lives in St. Peter's Basilica. This castel was also used as a prison during the Papal State. Since 1901, the Castel Sant'Angelo has been known as a national museum.
Monuments and Levels
There is a depiction of the Archangel Michael in the form of a statue that lies at the top of the castel, as he is said to be the protector of Castel Sant’Angelo. Many legends were formed following the end of the Roman wars, and many people believed that the Archangel Michael stopped the battles from happening within the castel’s vicinity to avoid further damage and casualties.
There are seven official levels of Castel Sant’Angelo. Each level depicts a different part of the history of Rome. The first level is where the courtyard is located. The second level is the famous mausoleum where Hadrian’s urn was once kept. The third level was used first as a prison, then as a warehouse and storage unit. The fourth level was used for military purposes as well as papal use. There are 58 rooms on this level of the castel, which house paintings, furniture, and weapons. The fifth level was used as papal apartments and they are beautiful decorated with frescos from Giulio Romano and students of the School of Raphael. The sixth level of the Castel has a “treasure room,” filled with amazing frescos and paintings. This level also has a library room that holds more frescos and paintings than books. The seventh level is home to the famous statue of the Archangel Michael. A beautiful panoramic view is visible to anyone who visits the seventh level of Castel Sant’Angelo. In order to receive the full experience of Castel Sant’Angelo, one should visit all the levels open to the public.
There is a secret passageway, used by the Popes, which leads from St. Peter's Basilica to Castel Sant’Angelo. This passageway was built to keep the Pope safe in case the Basilica was under fire and he needed a place to hide. This secret passage is no longer a secret, but the public has no access to the passageway.
What's Nearby
The Castel Sant’Angelo is located on Luongotevere Castello road. It is easily accessible by foot from the Palazzo of Justice and the Saint Spirit Hospital in Rome. The castel is located within meters of Saint Peter's Basilica and the Square of the Vatican City.
50 Luongotevere Castello, Rome 00186, Italy
