St. Angelo Castle 

The castle was originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian in 139 AD. Since then it has played many roles: a military fortification, a prison and a place of safety for the Pope during times of political unrest. A corridor links the castle with the Vatican Palace.

The massive fortress of St. Angelo Castle takes its name from the vision of the Archangel Michael by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century, as he led a procession across the bridge, praying for the end of the plague of Black Death.

The many rooms in the castle are extremely interesting: the bathroom of Clement VII decorated by Giulio Romano, the Sala Paolina with illusionistic frescoes by Tibaldi and Perin del Vaga, the historical prisons section, called the Mouth of Hell, where Cellini, Giordano Bruno, Cagliostro were imprisoned.

This splendid bridge, built in the 2nd century links St. Angelo Castle to Campo Marzio.

The bridge is adorned with statues of St. Paul and St. Peter. In the mid 17th century Pope Clement IX order the famous artist Bernini to create statues of ten angels to be placed on the balustrade.