Ancient Tuesday: Castel Sant'Angelo or the Mausoleum of Hadrian
- Rick Bessey
- Jul 29
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 4
You don't go far in Rome without seeing the Castel Sant'Angelo, or the Mausoleum of Hadrian. This large, circular structure sits on the Tiber River, within sight of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the end of the Ponte Sant'Angelo.
Originally designed as a mausoleum for the family of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (who ruled from 117 - 138), its large size and solid construction made it an ideal fortress for the papacy. In fact, there is a passage that connects St. Peter's to the Castel Sant'Angelo. (Note that the passage is not hidden, for it goes overhead and is visible for most of the way!) Here are some curious notes about the Castel Sant'Angelo.
It is said that a female associate of the Borgia pope, Pope Alexander VI, lived there, and the Pope was able to visit via the passage between the Vatican and the Castel Sant'Angelo.
At one point, the building was a prison and held Caterina Sforza, Countess of Forlì and Lady of Imola.
The fictional character Mario Cavaradossi from Puccini's Tosca was also imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo, and the opera's lead character, Floria Tosca, leapt to her death from the parapets of Castel Sant'Angelo.
The angel at the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo is the Archangel Michael and provides the reason for the name of the building, the Castle of the Holy Angel.
Are you interested in seeing this?
Yes!
If there is time.
It doesn't really call to me.