Castel Sant'Angelo

Mikayla Greenhalgh
Aug 8, 2018
1 min read

Updated: Aug 13, 2018

Castel Sant’Angelo was built in 139 AD under the direction of Emperor Hadrian who intended to use it as a mausoleum for himself and his family. It is also known as Hadrian’s tomb and is located near Vatican City. A short time after it was built it became a military building. In 403 AD it was transformed into the Aurelian Walls.

During the great epidemic of plague that devastated the whole city, the pope Gregory I had a vision. A vision of Saint Michael the Archangel on the top of the castle announcing the end of the Epidemic. His actions had an impact on the castle today. In the memory of the Angle the building is crowned with a statue of an angle.

In 1277 the Castle was connected to Vatican City by a 800 meter fortified corridor. It was significant for people at that time because if the pope was in danger he could escape to the castle. In 1527 during the sieges in Rome, the Pope Clement VII used the fortress as refuge.