Overview:

: The Passetto di Borgo is a fortified passage that connects Vatican City to the Castel Sant'Angelo. It is an enclosed corridor of 8 m (25 feet) wide and 800 m (2,640 feet) long that was built in the 15th century by Pope Alexander VI as a secret and safe route to reach Castel Sant'Angelo, the Pope's fortified refuge from where he could control the city. This path was called the Angel's 'Staircase' (Scala dell'Angelo) because it was believed that by passing by it the Pope remained under the protection of the Archangel Michael. The Passetto di Borgo is enclosed by fortified walls still visible today in and around the Vatican. It is not open to the public but has been used from time to time by Popes for symbolic and ceremonial processions. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

is a long fortified passage connecting Vatican City to the Castel Sant'Angelo. It was built under Pope Nicholas III in the late thirteenth century to provide a secure route to the fort from the Vatican in times of danger. The Ramparts - As part of its defense system, the city-state is surrounded by a Medieval wall that runs for approximately two kilometers around the papal city. The walls were partially destroyed in the Napoleonic times, but in 1927, Pope Pius XI ordered the rebuilding of the walls and the making of additional fortifications to defend against modern warfare. Sistine Chapel – The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Roman Pontiff in Vatican City. It is renowned for its Renaissance frescoes, which are some of the most famous artwork in the world. Painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1514, the vault of the Sistine Chapel is covered with frescoes of Old and New Testament scenes. St. Peter's Basilica – St. Peter's Basilica is the Vatican's most important and largest church, and is where the pope presides over religious ceremonies. Constructed in Renaissance style, it is filled with masterpieces of art scattered throughout the building and in the crypt beneath it. Vatican Museums – Home to some of the world’s greatest art collections, the Vatican Museums include masterpieces from the Renaissance, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman eras. Visitors can explore a range of galleries, from the Raphael Rooms to the Sistine Chapel. Vatican Library – The Vatican Library is a research library located in Vatican City. It contains a priceless collection of more than 1.1 million books, manuscripts, and incunabula, as well as numerous ancient maps and coin collections. It was founded in 1451 to preserve the history and culture of the Catholic Church. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Passetto di Borgo is a walled corridor that connects the Vatican City to the Castel Sant’Angelo and is known as one of the not so secret passages of the city. The Passetto di Borgo, or “small passageway” as it translates to, was first constructed in 1277 as a means of providing Popes and their entourages with a safe route from the Vatican to the Castel Sant’Angelo in the event of an attack. Over the years, it has been used to escape hostile forces, such as during the Sack of Rome in 1527, when Pope Clement VII was able to flee to the Castel via the Passetto di Borgo. The passageway is protected by several walls—a primary wall measuring about two metres in height surrounded by a secondary wall which measures roughly one metre in height. The walls are pierced by several openings, from which guards can keep watch over potential intruders. At the start of the 20th century, Pope Pius X had several rooms built into the Passetto di Borgo, including a chapel and a few chambers. In recent times, the Passetto di Borgo has been used for its original purpose and to transfer trusted personnel between the Vatican City and the Castel Sant’Angelo. It is a hidden repository of historical importance, a reminder of all the struggles that have been overcome, and a testament to the strength of faith of those who used it in times of need. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

, Italy: 1) The Passetto di Borgo is a fortified stone passageway that was constructed in the 16th century to link the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. 2) The Passetto was commissioned by Pope Alexander VI shortly after he assumed the papacy in 1493. 3) The 800-meter long corridor was originally designed as an escape route should the Vatican ever fall under siege. 4) Its protective walls are up to 2.5 meters thick and it is equipped with battlements, open courtyards, and secret passages. 5) The corridor runs along the banks of the Tiber River and offers stunning views of the Vatican and the Castel Sant’Angelo. 6) In more recent times, the Passetto di Borgo has been used as a shortcut by popes in need of a quick and secure passage between the Vatican and the Castel Sant’Angelo. 7) The corridor has also been featured in several films and books, most notably Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, where the hero Robert Langdon uses the Passetto to escape from Vatican City. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.