Sant’Angelo Castle
Sant’Angelo Castle in Rome is perhaps one of the most representative and impressive monuments of the Eternal City.
Unmissable stop for those wishing to admire one of the most exciting views of the city and for photography enthusiasts.
The large fortress overlooking the Tiber indeed offers truly superlative views of Rome.
For this reason, if you are thinking of taking a tour in Rome, a stop at Castel Sant’Angelo certainly cannot be missing from your program.
Origin
It all began in 153 A.D. when the emperor Hadrian asked the architect Demetriano to build a funeral mausoleum for himself and his family, inspired by the model of the Mausoleum of Augustus, but with gigantic dimensions.
The works lasted several years and were completed by Antonino Pio in 139 .
This imposing monument is in fact known also as The mausoleum of Augustus but also Cagliostra Over the centuries, in fact, Castel Sant’Angelo has had many destinations, including that of prison.
From the name everyone would think it is a castle but it is not so.
In fact Castel Sant’Angelo was built to be the sepulcher of the emperor Hadrian and his descendants.
Features and Dimensions
The cubic base is covered with Lunese marble with decorative friezes with Bucrani.
The names of the emperors buried there were also written along this frieze,
and the structure above the cube, on the other hand, is covered in travertine.
At the apex there was the sculpture of a bronze chariot headed by the emperor Hadrian.
It has a height of 48 meters.
Furthermore, Castel Sant ‘Angelo is connected to the Campo Marzio by means of the Elio bridge.
It is located between the Prati district and Borgo Pio.
Castel Sant’Angelo – Wikipedia
In the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, Castel Sant’Angelo was instead attributed a defensive function.
For this reason, the emperor Honorius included it in the Aurelian walls.
The appearance of the monument then turns into a fortress.
In fact, Caste Sant’Angelo still appears today as a mighty impregnable fortress.
Later, Theodoric turned it into a prison.
Here the inmates were kept in terrible conditions.
Obviously the richest inmates could have the privilege of being locked up in more luxurious prisons located in the upper part of the castle, called Cagliostra.
The property of Castel Sant ‘Angelo was disputed between many families and eventually ended up among the possessions of the Orsini family.
In 1200 Pope Nicholas III, belonging to the Orsini family, ceded it to the church during his pontificate.
It was he himself who wanted the construction of the Passetto di Borgo, or an underground tunnel that connects the castle to the Vatican.
In this way, in case of enemy attacks, the popes could escape to a safe place using a secret passage.
In fact, the passage was used on several occasions for this very purpose.
From the Renaissance to the present day
Starting from 1400, Castel Sant’Angelo began to be embellished.
Courtyards, arcades and papal apartments with luxurious decorations were added.
Today Castel Sant’Angelo houses a permanent national museum and temporary exhibitions.
It preserves numerous rather heterogeneous collections, merged in different historical moments.
Visiting the castle, it is possible to walk along the mighty ramparts overlooking the river and admire a poignant, truly breathtaking, 360 ° view over the city.
Why Sant’Angelo Castle?
Famous is the terrace of the Angel so called because a colossal statue of the Archangel Michael was placed there.
The statue refers to the plague that occurred in the period of Gregory the Great.
The saint decided to make a procession to the castle and there he had the vision of the angel in the act of sheathing his sword.
This vision ended the epidemic.
From this anecdote, here is the current name of “Sant’Angelo Castle”.
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