Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the landmarks in Rome that best shows the layers of history and architectural styles the city was built on. Also called Hadrian Mausoleum because built by emperor Hadrian as his funerary mausoleum, this iconic Roman building is witness to almost 2000 years of history from its construction in the 2nd century.
Every time I go past Lungotevere Castello on my way to either the Vatican or the city center, I’m always surprised by the short line of travelers looking at visiting Castel Sant’Angelo. Nothing compared to the nearby Vatican Basilica and Museums but, in my opinion, undeservingly so.
There is so much to see in Castel Sant’Angelo, so much history to learn across its layers, so many halls and corridors to walk through and art to admire, that I think this is one of the most important and revealing landmarks in Rome.
In this article, I cover what to see in Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo as much as possible, aware that it’s impossible, in a single page, to talk about all the events that characterized its stormy past. However, for the love of history and the amazing city of Rome, I hope at least to inspire you to visit this important piece of Italian culture.
Visiting Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome – History + know before you go
History and architecture of Castel Sant’Angelo
The long history of Castel Sant’Angelo begins in 135 AD when Emperor Hadrian commissioned a majestic funerary mausoleum for himself and his family keeping in mind the Mausoleum of Augustus as an example but larger in size.
The construction of the Hadrian Mausoleum ended in 139, a year after the death of the emperor, under the rule of Antoninus Pius. Since the beginning, the grand mausoleum could be reached from the Campo Marzio area through the Pons Elio bridge, now called Ponte Sant’Angelo.
The monument is made up of a marble cubic base and a round drum that currently forms the lower part of the castle. The entire building was covered in marble and finely decorated with ornaments and the names of the emperors buried inside.
Originally, on top of the Hadrian Mausoleum was a bronze quadriga carrying the emperor Hadrian in triumph.
In 403 AD, the building was surrounded by a bastion of the Aurelian walls, becoming part of the city’s defensive system. This is also when its original function of the burial chamber was lost forever and when they started calling it castellum (castle).
It was around 590 that, according to tradition, the Hadrian Mausoleum was named Castel Sant’Angelo, after Pope Gregory I had a vision of the Archangel Michael sheathing his sword. This was taken as a sign of the end of the plague that was devastating the city.
Through the Middle Ages, Castel Sant’Angelo had quite a stormy history and changed purpose several times. It was used as a residence, fortress, court and prison. Popes started using it as shelter during foreign invasions. To the point that in the 13th century, Pope Niccolò III Orsini commissioned the building of the Passetto to facilitate the escape from the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo.
Along with the fortifications, the castle was also decorated at the behest of many popes living there. Beautiful rooms were built and embellished with frescoes, statues, gardens, and fountains. There is so much to see inside the Hadrian Mausoleum that I suggest including it in your itinerary whether you are staying in Rome for four days or even only for two.
Biggest highlights of Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo
Being only one building, you will be surprised by the number of things to see inside the Hadrian Mausoleum, each linked to a century or an event. In fact, the highlights of Castel Sant’Angelo include both those inside and outside the majestic mausoleum of Hadrian. Let’s find them out!
- The tomb of Hadrian. Built as the funerary mausoleum of Hadrian, it’s only normal that one of the first areas to visit in Castel Sant’Angelo is where the Roman emperor was buried. Through a gallery that runs around the drum, a corridor leads to the burial chamber. Located in the center of the mausoleum, it was once decorated with polychrome marble slabs. Here, the ashes of the emperor Hadrian were kept. Among the other notables buried there were his wife Vibia Sabina, the emperor Antoninus Pius and his wife Faustina the Elder, and the emperors Commodus, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Geta, and Caracalla.
- The internal courtyard. To access the rooms and halls upstairs, you will go through an internal courtyard and stairs. Take your time climbing up and look around: you will feel inside a medieval town!
- The papal apartments. Finely frescoed rooms and halls will give you a hint about the lavish lifestyle led by the popes sheltered in Castel Sant’Angelo. Among these, make sure you don’t miss Sala di Apollo frescoed with grotesques by Perin del Vaga who was inspired by the rooms of the Domus Aurea.
- The weaponry. This is a rich collection of weapons used for several centuries. You will see, in fact, weapons from prehistoric periods as well as those employed during the Risorgimento, the series of battles that resulted in the Italian unification.
- The prison. From the 14th century through the early 20th century, the ground level of Castel Sant’Angelo was used as a prison. Ordinary prisoners were accommodated in narrow spaces, while slightly better treatment was reserved for “special” prisoners. Among these were Beatrice Cenci, beheaded in today’s Piazza di Ponte Sant’Angelo, and Giordano Bruno, burnt at the stake in Campo de’ Fiori. The prison is not always open. To visit it, you need a certified guide from Castel Sant’Angelo itself.
- The terrace. On the upper floor, you can grab a table on the Castel Sant’Angelo terrace and enjoy a drink and the beautiful view of Saint Peter’s Basilica and dome.
- The rooftop. You can’t possibly miss the rooftop of Castel Sant’Angelo if you want to enjoy a 360-degree view of Rome spanning from the Vatican through the historic center. This is where you will also have an up-close view of the angel statue on top of the Hadrian Mausoleum, the Archangel Michael.
- The secret passage. Known as “passetto di borgo”, this elevated passageway is not really secret because you can see it from just about everywhere. In fact, you can already see it from the street and then from the rooftop, in all its length all the way to the Vatican. This secret passageway was used by Pope Alexander VI Borgia in 1494 on the occasion of the invasion of Rome by the militia of Charles VIII of France, and by Pope Clement VII (Giulio de’ Medici) in 1527 during the horrible Sack of Rome carried out by the Landsknechts of Charles V.
- Ponte Sant’Angelo Bridge. One of the highlights of the Hadrian Mausoleum is its bridge connecting to the city center. Ponte Sant’Angelo Bridge is as old as the Hadrian Mausoleum itself because the emperor envisaged it as a direct connection of the heart of the city with his own last resting place. The bridge itself is an important historic and artistic landmark and this is why we made a full video about it. Watch it below!
I took a fantastic tour with Walks called Roman Icons, where I learned tons about Castel Sant’Angelo. Our guide was very knowledgeable and truly shed precious light on areas of sections that I had already visited but not in such a deep manner. Apart from the Hadrian Mausoleum, this tour will also reveal precious insights into the Pantheon.
Click here to check it out and book your spot
Visiting the Hadrian Mausoleum – Info + tips
- Address: Lungotevere Castello 50.
- How to reach: Metro A (Lepanto, Flaminio), bus (30, 70, 81, 87).
- Opening hours: Every day 9 am-7.30 pm. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, December 25th.
- Website.
- Admission: 15€.
- Tips for visiting:
- wear comfortable shoes
- carry a bottle of water
- join a tour with a local expert
- take your time to see everything inside
Check out my new ebook with four self-guided walks in Rome!
What to see around Castel Sant’Angelo
The Hadrian Mausoleum is conveniently located between the Vatican, the Centro Storico, Trastevere, and Prati, so surrounded by landmarks and places to visit. Here are some of the nearest landmarks.
- Saint Peter’s Square and Basilica
- Vatican Museums
- Trastevere
- Jewish Ghetto
- Mausoleum of Augustus
- Piazza Navona
- Pantheon
- Centro Storico
- Area Sacra di Largo Argentina
- Via Giulia
Where to eat near Castel Sant’Angelo
If you are looking for a place to have your lunch or dinner after visiting Castel Sant’Angelo, I suggest you eat in Prati because this is where you will find better restaurants. Here are some suggestions about where to eat near the Hadrian Mausoleum.
- L’Arcangelo. Fine-dining restaurant Italian and Roman style by chef Arcangelo Dandini near Piazza Cavour (Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli 59).
- Sancho. Delicious pizza by the slice street food style (Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli 3/A).
- Terrazza Les Etoiles. Panoramic restaurant and rooftop bar for a meal or a drink (Via dei Bastioni 1).
- Mama Eat Lab. Roman and Neapolitan cuisine bistrot (Borgo Pio 28).
- Neve di Latte. Great gelato near Piazza Cavour (Via Federico Cesi 1).
- Buddy Veg. Plant-based restaurant/cafè some 15 minutes on foot from Castel Sant’Angelo towards Piazza Navona and the Pantheon (Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 107/A)
Where to stay near Castel Sant’Angelo
Between the historic center and the Prati district, there is no lack of accommodation in this area of Rome. Here are some great options.
- Palazzo Ripetta – 5-star hotel
- Hotel Locarno – 5-star hotel
- Villa Agrippina Gran Melià – 5-star hotel
- Le Méridien Visconti Rome – 4-star hotel
- Hotel Isa – 4-star hotel
- Domus Alberico – Guesthouse
- Capricci Romani – B&B
- CiaoRoma! – Guesthouse
Check out our guide to the best areas to stay in Rome!
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