3-hour walking tour
kid-friendly tour
Discover with our expert guide St. Peter’s Square, Castel Sant'Angelo and its "Passetto".
The Basilica of St. Peter represents the heart of Christianity, and has always been a gathering place for Christians and the centre of Christian art of all centuries. The impressive buildings and the light which are typical of the Baroque style envelop the worshipper with magnificence and astonishment, thanks to the theatrics of Bernini. The tour will include St. Peter’s impressive square made up of 284 columns.
Walking into the historical district of Borgo Pio, following from the outside the famous Passetto di Borgo, the Pope's secret tunnel, we will enter inside Castel Sant’Angelo. Conceived as the Tomb of Emperor Hadrian, it was originally built as the final resting place of the emperor. However, it soon became a fortress due to its strategic position and the grandiosity of the structure, now transformed into a museum. Universally ackowledged as an excellent example of the urban stratification in Rome, it preserves the original Roman ramp and the hall of the sepulchral urns, together with the richly decorated papal apartments, the Chapel designed by Michelangelo, the fortification and the secret archive. The roof garden and the terrace offer one of the most amazing panoramic views of Rome.
Some of the most representative pictures of this tour
Discover the main stops of this tour
This large and beautiful piazza is known worldwide as the architectural masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who built it in the mid-17th century. The original purpose of this square in the words of Pope Alexander XII was “so that the greatest number of people could see the Pope give his blessing”. St. Peter’s square is framed by a large colonnade, with 140 statues of Saints on top, that extends from the basilica and then opens into a large curved shape that surrounds the main piazza.
This term is used to refer to a covered fortified corridor that links the Vatican City with Castel Sant’Angelo. Erected by Pope Nicholas III in 1277, on at least two occasions it served as an escape route for Popes in danger. It also played a key role in Dan Brown’s novel Angels & Demons, when the antagonist used it to transport four abducted cardinals to Castel Sant'Angelo.
Initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family, around the beginning of the 14th century the popes converted the structure into a castle. The first apartment it housed was the one built by Paul III to ensure that in any future siege the pope had an appropriate place to stay.
The roof of this historical monument offers a spectacular and romantic panorama. Its rooftop is called “the terrace of the Angel” because of the bronze statue of the angel, symbol of the whole building. In fact, legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590, thus lending the castle its present name.
Some useful information for your experience
Expert and licensed guide, entrance ticket, full on-site assistance, sterilized earphones (from 5 people upwards).
Suggested start time: 8.00 am / 4.00 pm. Not recommended on Wednesdays.
Italiano
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