Castel Sant'Angelo - Rome Italy

The Castel Sant’Angelo was originally built between 134 and 137 AD originally it was constructed to be used as a mausoleum for Roman emperor Hadrian and his family.

The Castel Sant’Angelo stands on the right bank of the Tiber River and the Ponte Sant’Angelo, bridge spans from the Roman city center to the entrance of the mausoleum. The castle itself consists of a circle surrounded by a square with each corner of the square having its own lookout tower while the center structure contains halls, chapels, apartments, a courtyard and prison cells.

Castel Sant’Angelo was connected to the Vatican by a passageway in 1277 to serve as a place for the Pope to retreat to in case of an attack on the Vatican or St. Peter’s Basilica. For centuries, the castle was used as a prison and execution site.

During the Renaissance period, Castel Sant’Angelo underwent a complete transformation. Today this structure is a military museum and historical tourist attraction.