A short History of Castel Sant Angelo:
Built as a cylindrical mausoleum by Rome's Emperor Hadrian on the Tiber river near what is now the Vatican, the Castel Sant Angelo was converted into a military fortress before the Pope fortified it in the 14th century. Castel Sant'Angelo is named after the statue of Archangel Michele (Michael) found on top. Castel Sant'Angelo is now a museum, the Museo Nazionale de Castel Sant'Angelo.
Services Available at the Museo Nazionale de Castel Sant'Angelo:
You'll be able to take guided visits or visits via audioguides. There is access for mobility impared people, and a bookshop. On the top floor there is a cafe with great views of Rome.
Visiting the Castel Sant'Angelo - Costs and Opening Hours:
The Castel Sant'Angelo is open daily from 9am to 7pm, closed Monday. Tickets in 2010 cost 5 Euro, those between 18 and 25 years of age get in for half price, and visiting is free for those under 18 and over 65. Find current prices and information in Italian: Museo Castel Sant' Angelo
Getting to Castel Sant Angelo:
Bus lines 80, 87, 280 and 492 will get you close to the Castle. You'll find taxis at Piazza P. Paoli.
Castel Sant Angelo Renovations:
Recently, it has been discovered the the Castel Sant'Angelo was in a poor state of repair. Italy will pump 1 million Euros into fixing the castle, after carrying out immediate repairs costing 100,000 Euros. This activity may impact your visit.
More on Castel Sant Angelo:
The Castle has five floors. The first has a winding ramp of Roman Construction, the second features the prison cells, the third is the military floor with big courtyards, the fourth is the floor of the popes, and contains the most magnificent art, and the fifth is a huge terrace with a fine view of the city.
In 1277, Castel Sant'Angelo was connected to the Vatican by a rather infamous corridor called the Passetto di Borgo, allowing the castle to become a refuge of Popes when Rome was under seige. Castel Sant'Angelo was an equal opportunity castle, it also hosted popes in its prisons.
Puccini's opera Tosca was set in Rome, and features the ringing of the bells of Castel Sant'Angelo. Puccini made a trip to Rome "or the sole purpose of determining the pitch, timbre and pattern of the bells. He even climbed to the top of the tower at the Castel Sant'Angelo to clearly experience the Matin bells, rung in the morning by all the area churches and heard in Act Three of Tosca." (Tosca & Religion) The third act of Tosca is set at Sant Angelo.
