Castel Sant'Angelo: Tickets

Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome - Tickets and Visitor Information

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What is Castel Sant'Angelo?

• Castel Sant'Angelo is a historic fortress and museum on the banks of the Tiber River in Rome, a short walk from Vatican City.
• Emperor Hadrian commissioned the building as a mausoleum for himself and his family in the 2nd century AD.
• Over the centuries, it served as a tomb, a military fortress, a prison and a refuge for popes.
• You can now explore its historic rooms, see Renaissance decorations and military displays, and climb to the rooftop terrace for views across Rome.
• The castle is also connected to the Vatican's history through the Passetto di Borgo, a fortified passage that allowed popes to reach the safety of the fortress during periods of danger.

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Quick Information

• Address: Castel Sant'Angelo, Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193, Rome
• Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: From 09:00 - 19:30
• Suggested Visit Duration: 1.5-2 hours
• Nearest metro: Lepanto or Ottaviano on Line A
• Castel Sant'Angelo Ticket Options

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Is Castel Sant'Angelo Worth Visiting?

Castel Sant'Angelo is worth visiting if you want to explore a different side of Rome's history beyond its ancient ruins and churches. Its appeal comes from the way one building has been adapted to serve very different purposes over almost two thousand years.

• The visit takes you through the remains of Hadrian's original mausoleum, fortified corridors, rooms associated with the papacy and displays of historic weapons.
• The decorated papal apartments provide a contrast to the building's more defensive spaces.
• The rooftop terrace is another highlight as you can look across the Tiber, see St Peter's Basilica and admire the surrounding rooftops of Rome.
• The approach across Ponte Sant'Angelo, with its statues of angels, is also worth taking your time over.
• If you are visiting the Vatican, St Peter's Basilica or Piazza Navona, the castle is conveniently placed to add to a day of sightseeing.

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What You Can See at Castel Sant'Angelo

The main highlights of Castel Sant'Angelo include:

• Hadrian's Mausoleum: The building was originally constructed as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian and his family. Its massive cylindrical structure is still central to the castle's appearance, although the site has changed considerably since Roman times. The original burial monument was later incorporated into the fortress.
• The Papal Apartments: The papal apartments have decorated rooms, frescoes and other works of art that reflect the castle's period as a papal residence. The rooms show a different side of the building from its military defences and former prison spaces.
• Historic Weapons and Military Displays: Weapons and military exhibits help explain how Castel Sant'Angelo was defended and how its role changed over the centuries.
• The Courtyards and Fortifications: Courtyards, ramps, corridors and defensive structures show how the building developed from a Roman tomb into a fortified stronghold.
• The Statue of the Archangel Michael: The bronze angel statue above the castle is one of its most recognisable features. According to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared here in 590 AD, sheathing his sword to signal the end of a plague in Rome. The statue commemorates this story and explains the castle's name.
• The Rooftop Terrace: The terrace is one of the main reasons to visit. It offers views over the Tiber River, the surrounding streets and St Peter's Basilica.
• The Passetto di Borgo: The Passetto di Borgo is a fortified elevated passage connecting the area around the Vatican with Castel Sant'Angelo. It provided popes with a route to the fortress during dangerous periods, including the Sack of Rome in 1527, when Pope Clement VII sought refuge there. Access to the passage is not included with standard admission. Special visits may be offered separately.

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About Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo was constructed between AD 134 and 139 and it sits on the bank of the Tiber River. As well as being a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrain and his family, it is also the final resting place for Commodus, Marcus Aurelius, Caracalla, and their families.

It has served various purposes throughout its history. In AD 400, the church converted it into a fortress to protect Rome from Barbarian invasions. Then, later, it was used as a prison, with some of the cells still visible today. It also functioned as a castle before being transformed into the museum.

One of its intriguing features is the secret passages that were used by popes as escape routes! The most famous is the ‘Passetto di Borgo’, which is a fortified corridor that connects Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican. The passage was famously used by Pope Clement VII during the ‘Sack of Rome’ in 1527.

Castel Sant'Angelo also houses the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo, which has a collection of art, historical artefacts, and weaponry.

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