Castel Sant'Angelo National Museum
- Address:Lungotevere Castello, 50, Rome
- Hours:Apr - Sept 9am - 7pm, Oct - Mar 9am - 2pm. Closed Christmas and New Year's
- Admission:Adults: € 8
11:24 PM Sunday, May 27
Clear. Mild.
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The Castel Sant'Angelo is actually a tomb, Hadrian's Mausoleum. The Roman Emperor built it for himself and his family; their ashes were placed there in 138 AD. Other emperors are also buried there, but the tomb became a fortress in 401 AD; in 410 it was raided and the ashes were scattered. It is likely that Hadrian himself ended up in St. Peter's where a lot of the finest ornamentation of the mausoleum and other Roman buildings were taken.
It was named Castel Sant'Angelo after 590 AD when the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared on top of the building, signifying the end of the plague. From the 14th century, the popes turned the place into a residential castle, connecting it with St. Peter's by a fortified corridor. Since 1925, it has been a museum. The complex maze of rooms and corridors now house beautiful furnishings, paintings, sculptures, archaeological finds and historic weapons.
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OUTSTANDING TOUR!!! My wife and I were a little leery of the Segway but thought "why not?" The training period was thorough and quick with individual attention. The trip was wonderful and we loved the experience. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
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I took this tour with my 18year old son. We loved it! I managed to stay upright and manoevre the Segway without any trouble. It was my first time. Our guide was fantastic. He was an archeologist and so had some amazingly detailed facts about all the sight he could share. We found the whole experience very enjoyable.
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This was an absolutely excellent tour and our tour guide was truly amazing and very dramatic. He brought so much of the story to life and then showed us the falacy of the book. Would definitely recommend.
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The most beautiful way to approach the Castel Sant'Angelo is to walk across the bridge Ponte Sant'Angelo with its white marble sculpture angels by Bernini. The bridge is easily reached on foot or by taxi from the center of Rome. You can also start at St. Peter's and, walking with your back to the Basilica, you'll find the Castel Sant'Angelo beside the Tiber River.
