Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, is a towering cylindrical fortress on the banks of the Tiber River in Rome. Originally built in 135 AD as Emperor Hadrian’s tomb, it later became a papal stronghold, prison, and refuge during times of siege. A hidden passage, the Passetto di Borgo, connects it to the Vatican, allowing popes to escape in times of crisis. Today, it serves as a museum, showcasing Renaissance frescoes, medieval weaponry, and stunning panoramic views of Rome from its terrace.

The building has been a part of Roman History for different purposes and has seen the transformation of this huge empire. A visit to Castel Sant'Angelo will prove to be a different experience altogether and will leave you in awe of its architecture, its history and the thousands of lives that were lost in battle on the same ground. The most famous feature of this monument is a terrace that offers a stunning view of the whole city with a cute little aesthetic cafe that remains crowded at all times.

The monument consists of five floors that can be accessed by a spiral ramp. The first floor includes a long hall of ashes of the great rulers that served the empire and lost their lives during the battles. There are also cells that acted as a prison for various enemies of the state. As we go to the upper floors of the monument, we see a beautiful arrangement of paintings and frescoes by some of the greatest artists of that time that have been preserved for centuries. There is also a showcase of various weapons that had been in use in some of the greatest battles of Europe.