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2 hours
Daily Tour
30 people
English, Italian
Castel Sant’Angelo was originally built during the Ancient Rome by emperor Hadrian as mausoleum, become a Pope’s prison conecting the Vatican with the Castle trough the Passetto di Borgo – a fortified corridor.
Castel Sant’Angelo takes its celestial name from a vision steeped in divine grace. As the plague of 590 A.D. gripped Rome, Pope Gregory I led a desperate procession through the city. Atop the mausoleum, the heavens unveiled Archangel Michael, his radiant form sheathing a sword, a sign that the scourge had passed. This ethereal moment wove itself into the fabric of the city’s history, transforming the once imperial tomb into the Castel Sant’Angelo,” a beacon of hope and faith. Today, the bronze statue of the Archangel atop its summit immortalizes the legend, his presence eternally guarding the Eternal City.
The Castel Sant’Angelo was a death scene inspiration to Giacomo Puccini for his opera Tosca where the broken-hearted heroine throws herself from the castle’s walls. In 1901 the castle became a museum under name Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo.
Today, this breath-taking museum is where we will discover its secrets and mysteries hidden insight, the torture tools and machines artwork that will leave you speechless, followed by a wonderful overlook of the Vatican from the top.
Your journey through Castel Sant’Angelo offers an unparalleled glimpse into its multifaceted history and architecture. Your guide will lead you through the opulent Papal Apartments, adorned with intricate frescoes and relics that reflect the castle’s role as a refuge for popes.
Explore the fascinating military artifacts collection, showcasing weaponry and defenses that once safeguarded the fortress. Descend into the eerie dungeons, a reminder of the castle’s darker past as a prison, and uncover the secrets held within its stone walls.
Finally, ascend to the terrace crowned by the statue of St. Michael, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Rome and the Vatican, a moment to reflect on the site’s profound history and legend.
A century wide adventure awaits those who are brave enough to partake in it!
Well-known people that were imprisoned in this fortress were Giordano Bruno and the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The inner courtyard was used for the executions. To discover more about mysteres and legends of this place You can join us also on Ghost in Rome tour.
Lungotevere Castello 50
- Vatican City has a strict dress code. Entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel is permitted only to appropriately dressed visitors, knees and shoulders need to be covered.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller not accessible
- Not suitable for pets.
- Since June 2024 it is mandatory for all bookings to contain truthful information about the identity of each customer, as on ID document. Accordiing to the article art 76 DPR445/2000, in case it is determined that the identity or any other information does not match the ID document, we are obliged to raport (under penalty) false representation to the police and the acess into the Vatican State will not be allowed.
- Due to Jubilee Year 2025, on occasion the connecting doors between Sistine Chapel and St Peters Basilica are closed, so the passage will be unabled to Basilica. No refunds will be issued in this case.
- Due to the long security lines the meeting time can be anticipated/posticipated to insure Your fastest entry to the Vatican state but security lines are obligatory and cannot be avoided as Vatican is a separate state and Rome Tour is not responsible for the managing of the entry.
- Vatican Museums have a strict entrance time, no late entries are allowed. Please make sure that you arrive on time! No refunds will be authorized.
- Due to the long security lines the meeting time can be anticipated/posticipated to ensure Your fastest entry to the Vatican state but security lines are obligatory and cannot be avoided as Vatican is a separate state and Rome Tour is not responsible for the managing of the entry.
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