Overview:

: Castel Sant'Angelo is a cylindrical fortified citadel located in Rome, Italy. The citadel was originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD, and later converted into a fortress. As one of the largest and most impressive structures in Rome, it stands on the right bank of the Tiber River. The castle boasts impressive defensive features, including massive walls, high towers, and ancient weapons. Today, castel Sant'Angelo is a museum and is one of the most popular attractions in Rome. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Italy
Prominent Features:

1. Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian: Built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian in 139 AD, Castel Sant'Angelo was later used as a fortress and a papal residence. 2. Ramparts and Bridges: The stronghold is encircled by impressive ramparts, which are connected by three bridges and topped by whimsical angel statues. 3. Towering Gorgon Statue: Crowning the fortress is the commanding figure of an ancient Gorgon, symbolizing castle's long past and role as a guardian. 4. Museum on the Inside: Inside Castel Sant'Angelo is a well-appointed museum with artifacts dating back to the 12th century. Visitors can explore the castle's past and discover its many secrets. 5. Bunker: During World War II, Castel Sant'Angelo served as an air-raid bunker, sheltering the Pope and other important officials. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Italy.

History:

Castel Sant’Angelo, or the Castle of the Holy Angel, is a monumental cylindrical building in Rome, Italy that has served as an iconic building for the city of Rome for over two thousand years. It has had many roles, serving as a mausoleum, fortress, and papal residence, transforming itself from a former tomb for Emperor Hadrian’s family into a fortress for the Pope during the Middle Ages. The building was initially built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family in 135 CE, and eventually became a symbol of the empire. It was built in a rather peculiar shape, resembling a cylinder or cone, with three levels, each containing its own terrace. Throughout the next century, it served as a burial ground for the imperial family before it came under the control of the Pope in 590 CE. At this point, it began to be used as a fortified residence for popes during times of siege, and it was renamed in reference to the Archangel Michael that was said to have Angelo appeared by the castle. The castle was transformed into a proper castle, with battlements and ramparts added, its walls were thickened, and it was connected to St. Peter's Basilica with a covered walkway. It was also used as a prison under the Papal states. During the Renaissance, it underwent extensive renovation and restoration under the direction of Pope Pius IV, turning it into the splendid palace it is today. By the late 19th century, it had become a much-admired attraction and a symbol of Rome, and it remains an important monument of its history to this day. Visit one of the famous monuments of Italy with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Castel Sant'Angelo was originally constructed as the mausoleum for Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. 2. Today, Castel Sant'Angelo is a towering cylindrical brick fortress that stands at the entry of the Tiber River. 3. In the 16th century, the keep was used as a papal prison, where several prominent figures were incarcerated - including Giordano Bruno and Sixtus V in the 16th century. 4. During the late fifteenth century, Pope Alexander VI Borgia used the keep as a private palace, commissioning Bramante to add a two-story royal apartment to account for the pope’s many mistresses. 5. The red-gold angel that sits atop its battlements is a reproduction of that which Pope Clement VIII Borgia had commissioned just before his death in 1592. 6. Legend has it that the bronze statue atop the bastion was originally made by the ancient Greek sculptor Lysippus in the 4th century BC. Supposedly when Pope Gregory I (590-604AD) was walking near the Mausoleum he saw a cloud descending in the form of an angel above the battlements of the castle. 7. Castel Sant'Angelo is widely recognized as the main villain's lair in the popular novel The Da Vinci Code. 8. The castle was used as a prison for enemies of the papacy from the 17th to the 19th century, and for seven weeks in 1849 as a prison for fighters in Rome’s short-lived republic. 9. After World War II, the castle served as the Museum of Contemporary Art, but later reverted to its original use as a museum of antiquity. One of the historical monuments of Italy, it tells the story of a bygone era