Castle of the Holy Angel: Castel Sant’Angelo and the Tiber Walk from the Vatican

Ponte Sant’Angelo is part of the visit, not just a way across the Tiber. Hadrian commissioned the bridge, originally called Ponte Elio, in 136 AD to connect the city with the entrance to his mausoleum.

For a broader itinerary, the Vatican-to-centre route for one day in Rome links the Vatican area with the city centre.

Ten angel statues holding symbols of the Passion were added in 1668. Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the figures, and his pupils executed them. Take in the bridge’s sculptures as you cross, then continue toward the castle entrance.

The museum brings together collections that include sculptures, paintings, marble finds, weapons, furniture and other objects. The building began as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian; Rome’s tourism authority describes it as a monument, archaeological area and museum.

At the museum’s terrace, the bronze statue of the Archangel Michael stands above a panoramic view. If you want to connect the castle with the Vatican’s history, the Passetto di Borgo is a fortified elevated passage between the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo, visited on guided tours.

The riverside setting gives you another way to take in the castle after crossing the bridge. The Giardini di Castel Sant’Angelo beside the river are laid out as eight flower beds around a central 17th-century fountain.

Piazza Pia, which connects Castel Sant’Angelo with Via della Conciliazione, has been pedestrianized. You can include the square and riverbank in the same outing before heading back toward the Vatican area.

The museum is normally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 to 19:30, with last entry at 18:30. It is normally closed Mondays, December 25 and January 1, with possible extraordinary openings. Before you go: hours, admission and access arrangements can change, so check the official museum site before you go.

The official museum site gives a full-price ticket of €16 and a reduced price of €2 for EU citizens aged 18 through the day they turn 25. Tickets are nominative, so you must enter personal details when buying. The museum recommends booking for holidays and weekends, especially Saturdays and Sundays.

On the first Sunday of the month, admission is free and advance booking is unavailable; collect a free ticket at the ticket office. Roma Pass holders must show their card at entry. Payment is accepted by Bancomat, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Maestro.

Plan for access conditions as well as entry. Visitors with disabilities have access to only part of the outdoor spaces, and accessibility work may cause detours or changes to the ground-floor ambulatory route.

Staff can assist with the alternative route via the Dromos and ramp to the Courtyard of the Angel. There is no cloakroom, and animals are not allowed inside. During evening events beginning at 19:30, the visit route may change or be restricted, and groups are not admitted.