Page 252 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

250  ROME AREA B Y AREA

e Castel Sant’Angelo

The massive fortress of Castel Sant’Angelo takes its
name from the vision that Pope Gregory the Great
had of the Archangel Michael on this site.
It began life in AD 139 as Emperor Hadrian’s
mauso leum. Since then, it has had many
roles: as part of Emperor Aurelian’s city
wall, as a medieval citadel and prison, and Mausoleum of Hadrian
as the residence of the popes in times of This artist’s impression shows the
political unrest. From the dank cells in the lower levels to tomb before Aurelian fortified its
the fine apartments of the Renaissance popes above, a walls in AD 270–75.
58-room museum covers all aspects of the castle’s history.

Courtyard of Honor
Heaps of stone cannonballs
decorate the courtyard,
once the castle’s
ammunition store.

KEY
1 The spiral ramp was the entrance
to the mausoleum.
2 The Rooms of Clement VIII are
inscribed with the family crest of the
Aldobrandini pope (1592–1605).
3 Loggia of Paul III
4 Hall of the Library
5 Hall of the Columns
6 The Treasury was probably
the original site of Hadrian’s
burial chamber. . View from Terrace
The castle’s terrace, scene of
7 The Round Hall houses the the last act of Puccini’s
original model from which opera Tosca, offers splendid
Verschaffelt’s angel was cast. views in every direction.
8 The Hall of Justice is decorated
with a fresco of The Angel of Justice Protecting the Pope
by Domenico Zaga (1545).
9 Hall of Apollo The room is The Vatican Corridor leads from
frescoed with scenes from the Vatican Palace to Castel
mythology attributed to the pupils Sant’Angelo. It was built in
of Perin del Vaga (1548). 1277 to provide an escape
route when the pope was
0 Ventilation shaft in danger. The pentagonal
q Bridge ramparts built around the
w The Chamber of the Urns housed castle during the 17th century
the ashes of members of Hadrian’s improved its defenses in Walls and fortifications
family. times of siege. Vatican Corridor

US_250-251_EW_Rome_US.indd 250 15/03/17 4:21 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 3rd September 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm