Cathedral of St. Angel in Rome. Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome: from the empire to the present day. Interiors and halls of the castle

Emperors were buried in this castle, then popes lived in it. Artists and scientists have recognized it as a prison. And once an angel even descended on the roof of the castle... The Castle of the Holy Angel was originally built in the second century as a Mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian. Only after some time it was transformed into a large complex, where the Popes could save themselves during troubled times.

Castel Sant'Angelo on the right bank of the Tiber River has a turbulent history, even by Rome's standards. During its many years of existence, the building functioned first as a mausoleum, then became part of the city wall and was later turned into a fortress before becoming a papal residence and finally a barracks and a military prison. It currently houses the National Museum. In 130 AD the aging emperor Adrian decided to build a new tomb for himself and his loved ones - just as the emperor Augustus had done a century and a half earlier. The place for construction was chosen outside the city, on the opposite bank of the Tiber. At the same time, the Elio bridge was built (according to one of the names of the emperor - Publius Elius Hadrian), connecting the mausoleum with the Field of Mars, where the funeral ceremony began. Passionate traveler and great admirer of Greek culture, Adrian showed himself as an outstanding architect. And if the authorship attributed to him by rumors in the pantheon project is not proven, then the “parallel world of harmony and perfection” created in Hadrian’s villa near Tivoli is undoubtedly the fruit of the emperor’s own creativity. It is possible that the construction of the mausoleum was carried out according to his project. Adrian did not live to see the completion of the construction, it was completed a year later by his successor Antoninus Pius. In 139, the remains of Hadrian were transferred to the mausoleum, which then became the burial place of all subsequent emperors up to Caracalla, who was buried here last in 217.

Over the next 60 years, the tomb was abandoned. At the end of the III century. AD to protect the city from barbarian raids, the emperor Aurelian erected fortifications, which are largely preserved to this day. The mausoleum of Hadrian was included as a bastion in the defensive ring of the Aurelian walls. For several centuries, its impregnable walls served the Romans as a reliable defense against enemy invasions, which became especially frequent in the 5th-6th centuries. There is a legend that when the projectiles ran out, the townspeople threw marble statues that once adorned the mausoleum on the heads of the attackers. Castle Sant'Angelo was originally built by Emperor Hadrian. It served as a mausoleum for the remains of Hadrian himself and his successors, up to Caracalla. The design of the Castel Sant'Angelo was inspired by the Mausoleum of Augustus, built a century earlier. The construction of the mausoleum began in 123 and ended in 139, during the reign of Adrian's successor Anthony Pius.

Its current name is Castel Sant'Angelo- the construction was received in 590. A terrible plague epidemic raged in Rome at that time, which claimed many lives every day. According to legend, Pope Gregory the Great decided to lead a procession through the city to win the mercy of the Virgin Mary. When the procession led by the pontiff entered the bridge of Elio, an angel appeared to the eyes of those praying. The messenger of heaven, hovering over the imperial tomb, sheathed the sword, which was interpreted as the end of God's wrath. The epidemic really soon stopped. The impression from the vision remained so strong that the castle remained forever the Castle of the Holy Angel. The figure of an angel sheathing a sword was installed on the roof, in the same place. Then she was transferred to the garden in front of the castle. The building consisted of a square base 89 meters wide, on which was built a cylindrical drum 64 meters in diameter. The drum with the colonnade was covered with clay molding and topped with a statue of Hadrian, the driver of the quadriga. The mausoleum was connected to the city on the other side of the river by the new Aurelius Bridge, now known as the Bridge of the Holy Angel. Numerous statues were added later, during the Baroque period.

The Bridge of the Holy Angel, decorated with sculptures by Bernini, is the main crossing through which countless pilgrims from the 7th century got from the left bank to the right, to St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican. 10 statues of angels, made by Bernina in the baroque style, were erected during the time of Pope Clement 9th. Between 270 and 275, during the construction of the Wall of Aurelius, the mausoleum was fortified and connected to the protective wall of Rome. Thus the castle of the Holy Angel slowly turned into a fortress, and in 1277 was transferred to the Papacy for refuge in case of danger. The secret corridor Passetto di Borgio connects Castel Sant'Angelo with the Vatican. The corridor was used by Pope Clement VII and his Swiss Guard to escape the army of Charles of Bourbon during the siege of Rome in 1527.

The bronze sculpture that we see today crowned the Castle in 1753. Its author, Pietro van Verskaffelt, in order to emphasize that the angel removes the sword, and does not take it out, made the statue turn its head and look at the scabbard. It is curious that the previous version of the heavenly messenger (a stone angel with iron wings by Rafael di Montelupo) did not express this idea so clearly: only the peace-loving expression on the angel's face testified to the good news from God. But, of course, it was not this circumstance that caused the replacement of one sculpture with another, but a lightning strike, from which the stone statue was badly damaged.

One of the most striking and dramatic events in the history of the castle-fortress was the nine-month siege of Rome by the Landsknechts of Charles V in 1527. Defended by loyal Swiss guards, the Castle of the Holy Angel was the last stronghold of Pope Clement VII. Among others, the famous sculptor and jeweler Benvenuto Cellini, who described this episode in detail in his autobiography, took part in the defense of the fortress. According to Cellini, he was destined to play a decisive role in this confrontation, since it was he who managed to kill the commander-in-chief of the Bourbon army on the spot with a well-aimed shot from an arquebus from the castle wall. It should be added that historians find this fact very controversial, but they also do not undertake to refute it. But even in this fortress, the pontiffs tried to surround themselves with maximum luxury. The papal apartments in Castel Sant'Angelo are decorated with numerous frescoes. Under the apartments there are several floors where prisons and even torture chambers are located. The wide corridor is part of the original mausoleum and leads to the lower levels of the building. At the top of the fortress, next to the panoramic terrace, is a statue of an angel, created by the eighteenth-century Flemish sculptor Pieter Verschaffelt. The bronze statue replaces the earlier marble version. The statue depicts the archangel Michael, who, according to legend, appeared on the fortress in the year 590 and miraculously ended a serious epidemic that swept the city of Rome. After this event, the building was renamed Castel Sant'Angelo.

In parallel with the reconstruction of the defensive structures turning Castel Sant'Angelo into an impregnable stronghold, a completely different work was carried out in the inner chambers, as a result of which the gloomy labyrinth of the structure was transformed into a luxurious aristocratic dwelling, richly decorated with Renaissance frescoes. The loggia of Julius II also belongs to the decorative elements - a private balcony from which the Pope could not without pleasure look at the powerful stream of people moving along the bridge of the Holy Angel. The former Elio bridge, renamed at the same time as the mausoleum, eventually acquired a new purpose - countless crowds of pilgrims moved along it towards St. Peter's Cathedral from the opposite bank.

Over time, some rooms on the ground floor and the dungeons of the castle began to be used as prison cells. The cardinals who participated in the conspiracy against the Pope were buried alive in close solitary confinement. Among the prisoners of the Castel Sant'Angelo were famous scientists - Galileo and Giordano Bruno, humanists - Platina and Pomponio Leto, the unfortunate Chenci family, falsely accused of murdering their despotic head and executed on the square in front of the castle ... One cannot ignore the same Benvenuto Cellini, whom she again brought in this castle fate - this time as a prisoner. In 1537, the jeweler was accused (perhaps falsely) of embezzling precious stones from the papal tiara and placed in the prison of the Castel Sant'Angelo. Soon he managed to escape from the "convenient cell" on the first floor, then he was again captured and imprisoned in the dungeon. The harsh treatment made Cellini prepare for the worst, and he expected the death sentence from day to day. However, thanks to the intervention of influential friends, primarily Cardinal d'Este of Ferrara, the master was released from custody. On the wall of the cell in which Cellini languished, there are still traces of the drawing “Christ Risen” left by him, which is now a valuable exhibit Museum.On December 27, 1789, the famous Count of Cagliostro was placed in the punishment cell of the Castel Sant'Angelo.The Holy Inquisition accused him of heresy, the practice of necromancy, the creation of secret societies, etc. Half of the charges brought against him would have been enough for a death sentence. announced, but the process was very much like a farce, and in the end the condemned count was sent to the fortress of San Leo, where he died in 1795. The last prisoners of the castle prison were the patriots of the Risorgimento, who fought against the provisional government in the middle of the 19th century.

This is perhaps the most unusual, “unreal” life of the castle. But its importance is difficult to overestimate. The majestic bulk of the Castle of the Holy Angel, whose stone walls remember the solemn ceremonies of imperial burials, the courage of the fighters defending the fortress and the groans of the prisoners of the gloomy dungeon, has long served as a source of inspiration for people of art.

Now the former gloomy prison has turned into a kind of amusement park. The castle building houses the National Museum, one of the most visited in Rome. In the moat, the surrounding residents walk their dogs, charity fairs, book exhibitions and other festivities are organized in the surrounding alleys, and the Sant'Angelo Bridge is safely occupied by cheerful sellers with Louis Vuitton and Gucci for 10 Euros.

Castel Sant'Angelo is a monumental architectural monument dating back to the period of Ancient Rome. At various times, the building served as a fortress, and a papal residence, and a mausoleum, and even a prison. Today the castle is a National Museum. This architectural monument is located on the banks of the Tiber. A 10-minute walk from the castle is another significant attraction of Rome -.

History of Castel Sant'Angelo

Mausoleum of Hadrian

In 135-139 AD. on the high bank of the Tiber River, a tomb was erected for the emperor Adrian Publius. In those days, the rulers were worried about the place of their burial in advance, choosing a location for their own tomb. The structure was built in the traditional form of the Etruscan tumulus - a burial chamber with a bulk top in the form of a dome. Each side of the square base was 84 meters long. The cylinder, mounted on the base, had a height of 20 meters and a diameter of 64 meters. On the bulk hill, from above, they installed a statue of the god of the Sun - Helios. A spiral gallery leads to the burial chamber. Urns with the ashes of emperors, as well as their families, from Adrian Publius to Septimius Severus, were kept here.

By the way, the bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant'Angelo) was also built on the orders of Hadrian. On the bridge you can get to the tomb from the center of Rome.

By the 5th century, Hadrian's mausoleum had lost its gloss and gradually turned into a military fortification. During the invasion of Goths, some of the statues, urns with ashes and decorations were stolen.

Renaming the mausoleum

According to stories, in 590, when the plague raged throughout Europe, Pope Gregory the Great saw the Archangel Michael over the mausoleum, who sheathed his sword. After that, the terrible epidemic receded, in honor of which the tomb became known as the “Castle of the Holy Angel”, and in Italian - Castel Sant "Angelo.

Also in connection with these events, a figure of an angel made of wood was erected on the structure. In the 14th century it was replaced by marble, and after another 100 years they created a sculpture with bronze wings, which was later destroyed by lightning. Next was a bronze angel - it was melted down into cannons. In the 16th century, the sculptor Rafael da Montelupo made a new figure, which was later transferred to the courtyard - since then the courtyard has been called the Courtyard of the Angel. Now we see a bronze angel over the castle - this work was done in 1753 by Pierre Van Verschafelt.

Castel Sant'Angelo: fortress and prison

In the Middle Ages, the castle became the residence of the popes. Here the pontiffs hid from enemies and angry people. During the time of Pope Nicholas III, a secret gallery was built between the Vatican and the castle - a harnessed wagon could freely pass through this passage. Thus the castle became an impregnable fortress. When the troops of Charles V entered Rome, Clement VII took refuge here.

The dungeons and the lower tier of the building were used for a long time as a prison. Galileo, Count Cagliostro, Giordano Bruno, Pomponio Leto, Benvenuto Cellini were imprisoned here (his drawing “Christ Risen” on the casemate wall has survived to this day).

For those who want to touch history and live near the Castel Sant'Angelo, we can recommend.

The real castle of the Holy Angel: what's inside

When Rome became the capital of the unified Italian state in 1871, the authorities closed the prison. For some time the castle served as a military warehouse and barracks. By that time, the halls were in a state of disrepair, and there were no frescoes left on the walls. Colonel Luigi Duran de la Penne and Captain Mariano Borgatti initiated the restoration of the castle, after which a military museum was opened here. At the very beginning of the 20th century, it became the National Museum.

First level of the castle

Along the circular corridor we get to the Court of the Doomed - here the executions of prison prisoners were carried out. At the entrance to the castle there is an arch and stairs leading to the tomb of Hadrian.

Second level

The second level of the Castle of the Holy Angel begins with the Hall of Urns, here in the niches are the urns with the ashes of Adrian and his family. Nearby is the Hall of Justice, where the prisoners were read their sentence, as well as prison cells. During archaeological excavations on the second level, rooms were found for storing supplies of oil, grain, etc. in case of a siege of the fortress.

Third level

Getting to the third level, you will find yourself in the very Angel's Yard, which is written about above. On the east side of the courtyard is the entrance to the papal apartments, in particular, you can see the chambers of Pope Clement VIII. Next up is the Apollo Hall, a great example of how a military stronghold has been transformed into a chic residence.

Angel Yard

Pope Eugene IV ordered the construction of a chapel in honor of St. Cosmas and Daminan next to the chambers. In 1450, the room was connected to the chapel by a passage - this was the desire of Nicholas V. Michelangelo Buonarroti also took part in this restoration - he painted the walls of the chapel. And the Madonna and Child on the altar was depicted by Rafael da Montelupo.

Fourth level of Castel Sant'Angelo

Here is a covered gallery, where sculptures, archaeological finds, stucco moldings, and various decorative elements are presented. Further on are halls with collections of weapons from different eras, as well as the apartments of Pius IV, the loggias of Paul III and Julius II.

On the fourth level there are several more interesting halls that deserve attention:

• Perseus Hall with tapestries, frescoes and gilded stucco. There are paintings “Lady with a Unicorn” and “Lamentation for Christ”.
• Hall of Cupid and Psyche, decorated with frescoes on the theme of the myths of Apuleius. Here we see a bed, a small altar, portraits of Alexander VI and Paul III, as well as the paintings “Carrying the Cross” and “Rest on the Flight into Egypt”.
• Paolina Hall - This hall was created in the 16th century as the reception rooms of Paul III Farnese. Since that time, important guests and ambassadors have been received here.

Fifth level

On this level is the Treasury Room, which was used to store the archives of the church and the treasury. There are chests in the center of the round hall, and 12 walnut cabinets around the perimeter. Further along the corridor you can get into the library, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes depicting the life of the emperors and the Catholic Church.

Sixth level

And finally, the last, sixth level of the Castel Sant'Angelo ends with a route to the terrace, from where a stunning view of Rome opens. On the left you can see the Bell of the condemned, announcing the execution of prisoners. From the terrace you can get to the Hall of Flags and the Hall of Columns.

View of Rome from the terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo

Information for visitors

Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00186 Roma

Official site: http://castelsantangelo.beniculturali.it/

Ticket price:

• full - €14;
• for EU citizens from 18 to 25 years old - €7.

*For some exhibitions, the cost may vary.

How to get to Castel Sant'Angelo

By metro (line A):

• Lepanto station or Ottaviano San Pietro station.

By bus:

• lines 23, 40. 62, 271, 280, 982 - Piazza Pia stop;
• line 49, 87, 926, 990 - stop Piazza Cavour-stop;
• lines 64, 46 - Santo Spirito stop.

After inspecting the Castel Sant'Angelo, you can move on to getting acquainted with the architecture of the Capitol, in the design of which Michelangelo himself was involved.

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The construction of the Castel Sant'Angelo began in Rome back in 135. During its almost two thousand years of history, it was repeatedly rebuilt and functioned not only as a castle proper, but also as a tomb, the residence of popes, a storehouse and, of course, a prison. Currently, the Castle of the Holy Angel houses the Military History Museum, where tourists can see the Secret Archive, the Treasure Hall, the papal apartments, the loggia of Paul III, the hall of Clement VII, the courtyard of Alexander VI and much more - more than 50 rooms that make up a real labyrinth !

The building got its name in 590, when, during the plague, Pope Gregory the Great saw the Archangel Michael on the roof, sheathing his sword. This meant that the raging disaster had come to an end. It was after this that the fortress began to be called the Castel Sant'Angelo.

In the 16th century, a marble statue of the archangel was erected on top of the castle, later it was replaced by a bronze counterpart. The current one, by the way, is already the sixth in a row - the previous ones fell victim to lightning and lack of metal for weapons during wars.

Climbing up to the Castel Sant'Angelo, special attention should be paid to the holes in the walls - in fact, these are miniature prison cells, in which people suffering from claustrophobia once had a very hard time. It is known that only one person managed to escape from the castle-prison - Benvenuto Cellini (a goldsmith, sculptor, jeweler and just a charming adventurer).

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo is located at Lungotevere Castello, 50, you can get to it by metro (stops Lepanto or Ottaviano-San Pietro), as well as by bus. The entrance ticket costs 14 EUR (for adults). The museum is open daily, from 9:00 to 19:30; The ticket office closes at 18:30.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Castel Sant'Angelo or Mausoleum of Hadrian is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome and is famous for its rich history.

For many centuries, the castle was used for different purposes and acted alternately as a tomb, a fortress, a military bastion, a prison, a museum.

There are always a lot of tourists around the castle, as well as in the castle itself, and to get inside, especially during the tourist season, you will have to stand in line. But it's worth it! The unique history of the famous castle, which is more than two thousand years old, many myths and legends, ancient architecture, magnificent halls and galleries…

History of Castel Sant'Angelo

Initially, a tomb was erected on the site of the castle by order of the Roman emperor Adrian Publius (Publius Hadrianus) around 135 AD. It was here that the ashes of Emperor Hadrian were placed with the urns of his wife Sabina and son in 138.

The cylindrical tomb had a luxurious decoration. A decorative garden was arranged on the flat roof of the structure, in the central part of which there was a gilded quadriga. To connect the center of Rome with the mausoleum, the Bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant'Angelo) was built across the river.

The construction of the mausoleum was completed in 139 during the reign of Antoninus Pius, and the last burial in the castle took place in 217, when the emperor Caracalla died.

military fortress

By the 5th century, during the barbarian attacks on Ancient Rome, the castle served as a military fortress for the popes. After the capture of the fortress by the barbarians, the tomb of the emperors was plundered and fell into disrepair. A significant part of the bronze decorations, sculptures and urns were stolen.

Residence of the Popes

By the 14th century, when the fortress came under the control of the Vatican, it was completely restored and acquired the status of Castel Sant'Angelo. Where the tombs of the emperors used to be, richly decorated apartments for the heads of the Vatican were placed. Thus, the castle became the residence of the popes.

During the reign of Nicholas III (Nicolaus III), the castle was connected to the Basilica of St. Peter (Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano) through the Passeto corridor (Passetto di Borgo).

When the troops of Charles V (Carolus V) invaded Rome in 1527, the castle became the refuge of Pope Clement VII (lat. Clemens VII). Later, on the territory of the tomb, comfortable chambers were arranged for the popes in case of a new attack.

Jail

On the lower floors of the castle there were prison cells organized there by the Catholic Church. The most famous prisoners of this prison were Giordano Bruno (Giordano Bruno), imprisoned for 6 years, and Benvenuto Cellini (Benvenuto Cellini).

Thus, over the centuries, the former imperial tomb turned into an impregnable castle of the first persons of the Vatican and the most severe prison for objectionable people in Rome, thus proclaiming the unsurpassed papal power.

By the way, the prison in the castle of the Holy Angel was really the most impregnable, from which it was impossible to escape. This was succeeded by the only person known for his escape from the prison of Sant'Angelo, the sculptor and jeweler Benvenuto Cellini.

modern time

Since 1901, the castle has been a military history museum (Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo) and an amazing architectural monument, a must-see for all tourists in Rome.

Architecture

The castle has an impressive appearance and an unusual shape - it is impossible not to notice it if you are walking along the embankment, for example, from the side of the Vatican.

And the bridge of the Holy Angel, which connects the castle with the opposite bank, is also famous for its unique historical past and is no less significant attraction than the fortress itself.

Facade

Castel Sant'Angelo is structurally a huge cylindrical fortress with a square base lined with marble. The towering round towers of the castle were named after the four apostles: Saint John, Saint Luke, Saint Matthew and Saint Mark.

The upper part of the castle is made of volcanic stone. From the outside, the building has a travertine lining and a decorative frame in the form of pilasters depicting the heads of cattle.

Later, when the building began to be used as a military bastion, it was fortified with additional walls.

Of course, the appearance of the modern fortress is very different from the originally built mausoleum. There is little left of the rich decoration of the tomb, white marble and facing stone, and the castle itself no longer looks as impregnable as during the battles. Although the external form of the castle remained the same.

Inside

In the inner part of the structure, the ancient tombs of the emperor and his family, as well as other emperors - Anthony Pius, Mark Anthony, have not survived to this day. The tombs and urns were looted and destroyed during the attacks of the barbarians.

And in the Middle Ages, when the fortress passed into the power of the Vatican, it was connected to the last special corridor and was used as a refuge for the popes. On the other hand, they also made a huge contribution to the restoration of the castle and its preservation up to the present day.

During the reign of Pope Boniface IX (Bonifacio IX), the chapel of St. Michael (Cappella San Michele Arcangelo) was built in the castle, as well as the walls of the structure were strengthened and bastions were erected. These works were led by the architect Niccolò Lamberti.

Further work to strengthen the castle was carried out by the architect Antonio da Sangalo Sr. (Antonio Giamberti da Sangallo) by order of Pope Alexander VI (Alessandro VI) in the 15th century. As a result, four more bastions were erected and a moat was dug. Inside the castle, apartments for the Pope appeared, decorated with frescoes by Pinturicchio.

For the subsequent strengthening of the castle, Urban VIII (Urbano VIII) in the 17th century destroyed a significant part of the military bastions to build an even more powerful structure.

Statue of Archangel Michael

At the very top of the fortress from the 16th to the 18th century there was a marble statue of the Archangel Michael with a sword, made by Raffaello de Montelupo (Raffaello da Montelupo) based on the legend.

Subsequently, the sculpture was transferred to the courtyard of the Angel, which was built in the 17th century. And on the roof of the castle, a bronze statue of the Archangel Michael by the sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt of the 18th century was installed.

Bridge of the Holy Angel

Initially, there were no sculptures of angels on the bridge of the Holy Angel, which leads to the castle. They were installed in 1667 by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, who worked on the creation of 10 statues for two years.

legends

The name of Castel Sant'Angelo comes from the following legend. If you believe the legends, in 590, Pope Gregory the Great, in the midst of a plague epidemic, the Archangel Michael appeared, sheathing his sword, and thus symbolizing the end of a terrible disease. So the castle got the name of the Holy Angel.

For centuries, the history of the castle has been associated with the hard fate of the martyrs imprisoned for life in prisons, which were located on its lower floors. It is not surprising that there are many legends about ghosts and restless souls of prisoners wandering around the castle and the bridge of the same name in search of peace.

The most famous legend is the story of the ghost of a woman named Beatrice Cenci. Sentenced to death for the murder of her own father, from whose terrible cruelty she suffered, the unfortunate woman was beheaded on September 11, 1599 at the age of 16. The execution took place on the square in front of the castle, where now every year on the night of September 11, her ghost appears.

What to see in the castle

If you are thinking about whether to go inside the castle or not, then the answer is obvious - of course, go! Even if you have to stand in line for a ticket in the summer season, it's worth it.

On the territory of the castle, papal apartments, numerous halls in which historical events took place are well preserved, as well as interesting collections of weapons.

Halls

Papal apartments have been preserved in the castle: the halls of Alexander VI, Clement III, Clement VII, Clement VIII, the rooms of Pius IV (Pio IV), the loggia of Julius II (Giulio II) by Giuliano da Sangallo, as well as the loggias of Paul III and Paul IV.

Other surviving buildings include:

• Library of Paul III and the Secret Archive;
• Treasury, which housed the wealth of the popes in the 16th century;
• triple rooms: here once were the apartments of the Count of Cagliostro;
• the Pompeano Corridor between the Apollo Room and the Library;
• 18th century castle keeper's room;
• the hall of Apollo, which served for social receptions;
• Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian (Capella dei SS. Cosma e Damiano);
• the Adrianeo and Garland rooms, decorated with frescoes from the 16th century;
• the baths of Clement VII, decorated by the famous Giovanni da Udine;
• courtyard of Alexander VI, which has a deep well;
• courtyard and chapel of Leo X (Leone X).

In the Hall of Justice, pay attention to the cannons and cannonballs from the Middle Ages. Here is part of the fresco depicting an angel. It was in this hall that the fate of prisoners was decided in the 16th century.

In addition, the hall of Perseus, decorated with scenes from the legend, as well as the hall of Cupid and Psyche, the hall of Paolina are noteworthy. The banners of the Italian infantry are currently stored in the hall of columns, erected by order of Benedict XIV.

If you pass through the round hall, you will find yourself on the Angel's Terrace (Terrazzo dell'Angelo). It is from there that you can admire the panoramic view of the Vatican and all of Rome.

Other premises

The ancient spiral gallery of the era of Emperor Hadrian is beautiful, which once served as a passageway to the tombs of emperors. Also interesting is the closed gallery, intended in the Middle Ages for the passage of pilgrims to the Pope.

In addition, on the territory of the castle it is worth seeing the Courtyard of the Savior, the study of Boniface XI, the chapel of the Holy Crucifixion, where those condemned to death prayed and the courtyard that served for the execution of prisoners.

Near the loggia of Paul IV there are prison premises, which to a modern person are more like a hole in the wall than a full-fledged cell.

The castle houses a military arsenal with a collection of weapons from the 15th to the 20th century.

Walking through the labyrinths of the castle, you seem to be transported to past centuries. And having risen to the top of the castle - to its terrace - you can admire a breathtaking view of the modern city.

How to get to Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo is located in Parco Adriano. Its exact address is Lungotevere Castello, 50. How to get there:

• if you decide to get to the castle by metro, then you need to get off at the Ottaviano-San Pietro or Lepanto stations (line A);
• buses no. 62, 40, 23, 271, 280 or 982 can get you to the Piazza Pia stop;
• by bus number 34 to Via di Porta Castello;
• by buses No. 49, 87, 926, 990 to the intersection of Via Crescenzio and Piazza Cavour.

Castle hours and ticket prices

Museum opening hours: daily, except Monday, from 9.00 to 19.30.

Ticket prices as of 2019 are:

• 14 Euro for an adult;
• 7 Euro concession ticket.

For groups of more than 20 people, it is necessary to book a visit, which will cost 1 Euro per visitor.

Good to know: every month on the first Sunday, admission to the castle is free.

The official website of the Castel Sant'Angelo is www.castelsantangelo.com.

Visit also

Leaving the castle, you immediately find yourself on the bridge of the same name, on which there are always a lot of tourists taking photos and admiring the stunning views of the embankment, the Vatican, the castle ...

Be sure to walk across the bridge, it keeps a lot of secrets, and the history of its occurrence is no less interesting than the history of the Castel Sant'Angelo.

Excursions in Rome

If you're looking for something a little more interesting than the traditional city tour on a map, then try this new format of sightseeing. In modern times, unusual excursions from local residents are becoming increasingly popular! After all, who better than a local resident knows the history and the most interesting places in Rome?

You can view all excursions and choose the most intriguing one on the website.

The Castle of the Holy Angel is crowned by perhaps one of the most beautiful sculptures of the Eternal City - the Archangel Michael, sheathing a naked sword.

Today I will tell you about the amazing history of this landmark of Rome, because over the long centuries of its existence, the castle managed to be a mausoleum, a papal residence and a prison, and, of course, a separate chapter will be devoted to the fate of the angels that were installed on the roof of the fortress from the sixth century AD.

MAUSOLEUM OF HADRIAN

It’s worth starting with a reminder that the original Castle of the Holy Angel was not built at all for someone to live in it. And not for defense! The Roman emperor Hadrian, who ruled in the 2nd century AD, began to build the building in 135 with completely different goals. The ruler planned that it would be a mausoleum where his own ashes, as well as the remains of all members of his family, would rest.

Actually, conceived by the emperor and was posthumously implemented. The mausoleum was completed in 139 by his successor Antoninus Pius, and not only the remains of Adrian himself, but also his wife Livia, sister Octavia and son-in-law Agrippa were buried there. Subsequently, the round hall of the tomb became the resting place of many rulers of Rome, the last to be installed here was the burial urn of Emperor Caracalla, a well-known admirer of the cult of Isis, who passed away in 217.

If we talk about the appearance of the mausoleum, then in ancient times it looked completely different. The tomb was built in the image and likeness of the Etruscan tombs of the tumuluses. The height is 44 meters, the outer walls are lined with white marble, at the top there is a mound with cypresses, a symbol of eternal life: these trees were often planted next to burials, because their shape resembles a candle pointing to heaven, and besides, they bear fruit all year round.

And even then, at the highest point of the cylindrical building, there was a gigantic sculptural composition. Of course, without angels. The mausoleum of Hadrian was crowned with a quadriga - an ancient chariot drawn by four horses - a classic motif in world art. We can see the same sculptural group on the triumphal arches, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, yes, why go far, it also flaunts on the facade of the Bolshoi Theater. True, the four horses that were installed on the mausoleum were ruled not by the patron of the muses Apollo, but by the emperor Adrian himself, depicted in the image of the sun god Sol (Helios).

FORTRESS AND PRISON

Do not believe anyone who will tell you that the mausoleum ceased to be used according to its original design only in 410, when the Visigoths captured Rome, completely devastated the necropolis and scattered the ashes of the emperors to the wind. In fact, even the emperor Aurelian, who ruled from 270 to 275, turned the building of the tomb into one of the bastions of the defensive walls, which, on his orders, began to be erected around the Eternal City.

Actually, the popes, who finally settled in the Castle later, simply continued to use the building for defensive purposes: there they took refuge from the Normans, Saracens and landsknechts. The castle was connected to the Vatican by a passage - a fortified corridor through which the pontiffs got inside the fortress. Some rooms of the former mausoleum, of course, were converted into dungeons, because if it is difficult to get inside the structure, then it is almost impossible to get out of it. Indeed, in the long history of the castle, only one prisoner managed to escape from it - the sculptor and jeweler Benvenuto Cellini.

By the way, after escaping from the prison of the Castel Sant'Angelo, he became a local celebrity, and his business, as they say, took off: jewelry created by Cellini began to be sold at sky-high prices. By the way, the cameras in the castle were, as they say now, of different categories. Ordinary rooms (from which the jeweler fled) and creepy cells that were inside the ventilation pipes. The most famous local prisoner was, of course, Giordano Bruno, whose sad fate is well known. He languished in the Castel Sant'Angelo for 6 months.

PAPA'S PALACE

Was the Castle the official residence of the popes? Yes, but after Alexander VI Borgia, the pontiffs settled in his chambers reluctantly. They said that it was not fitting for them to live where debauchery reigned in the past: one might think that they themselves were righteous! Nevertheless, do not treat the Pope Borgia as a person, but it was he who brought Castel Sant'Angelo into a decent form. He ordered to paint its walls and ceilings, carry out major repairs in the papal apartments, equip the yard for theatrical performances, and at the same time equip a place for torture and executions, in the same yard.

In a word, by the end of the 15th century, the fortress already looked decent, almost like today. Such a reverent attitude towards the Castel Sant'Angelo on the part of Pope Borgia was explained simply: literally everyone wanted death for the pontiff and his large family, where else would they feel at least relatively safe? Yes, and the Vatican with St. Peter's Cathedral was still under construction at that time, although the divine services were already held there.

ABOUT THE STATUE OF THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL ON THE ROOF OF THE CASTLE

Legend has it that Pope Gregory the Great was the first to see Archangel Michael sheathing his sword on top of the fortress. And this was not a statue at all, but a sign, meaning that the epidemics of the pestilence that raged in Rome in 590 had come to an end. So the castle got its current name, and the first angel made of wood appeared on its top. Then it was replaced with a marble statue, which was destroyed in 1379 during the next siege of the fortress.

But the popes are stubborn people, they did not give up and in 1453 they again installed a statue of an angel on top of the castle. Again marble, but equipped with bronze wings. By historical standards, the new sculpture did not last long. In 1497, the castle was struck by lightning, which exploded the gunpowder reserve, and the angel fell victim to the elements. It was possible to see a bad sign in this incident, and they saw it! After all, the throne of St. Peter at that time was occupied by the adulterous villain Pope Borgia, in a word, the already low ratings of the pontiff after the annoying story described above finally went into a terrible minus.

The new angel on the roof of the castle was already bronze, and the metal was additionally gilded, but this sculpture did not last long. In 1527, it was melted down to make metal for cannons. As they say, everything is for victory. Then the popes decided to return to the original plan and installed a marble angel with bronze wings on the roof of the castle. The statue was created by the sculptor Rafael de Montelupo, and his Michael was just one of a whole brood of his kind: on the orders of Pope Paul III, Raphael made 14 angels for the castle, which were replaced by sculptures by Bernini in the 17th century.

However, the fate of the fifth angel was merciful. He was simply transferred to the courtyard of the fortress, where he still stands. And only in the middle of the XVIII century on the roof of the Castel Sant'Angelo appeared the most beautiful bronze statue by Peter Anton von Verschaffelt, a sculptor, originally from the city of Ghent (Flanders), who worked in Rome since 1731. The reason why they decided to replace the old statue with a new one is simple and banal: external damage to the sculpture.