Castel Sant'Angelo

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The Castel Sant'Angelo, meaning the "Castle of the Holy Angel", is a massive cylindrical building located in Rome, Italy. It was originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the second century CE, and later served as a fortress and castle from the fifth century onwards.

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Overview

The Castel Sant'Angelo has played an important role in the history of Rome and has served as a symbol of the city's power and resilience over the centuries. It is now a museum and is open to visitors. Historically, there is no mention of a Bastion of Saint John in relation to the Castel Sant'Angelo.

The Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, was constructed in Rome between the years 130 to 139 CE, a year after Hadrian's death. It was created as a family tomb to replace the Mausoleum of Augustus, which was the previous tomb of the Imperial family, and was utilized until the reign of Caracalla.

The Mausoleum was transformed into Castel Sant'Angelo during the Renaissance period, revetting it with brickwork, adding battlements and building new rooms on top. Many of the contents and decorations inside the tomb have been lost over time due to its transformation into a military fortress in 401 CE and its subsequent addition to the Aurelian Walls by Flavius Honorius Augustus. The urns and ashes were scattered by Visigoth looters during the sack of Rome by Alaric in 410 CE. The original bronze and stone statues were also destroyed, as documented by Procopius, when the Goths besieged Rome in 537 CE and they were thrown at the attackers.

Brief History

circa 135 CE- Modern Period

Roman Period
Castel Sant’Angelo, originally known as Mausoleum of Hadrian, was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian as a monumental tomb for himself and his family. Construction began around 135 CE and was completed in 139 CE under Emperor Antoninus Pius. The structure was designed as a cylindrical mausoleum, resembling earlier Roman mausolea like the Mausoleum of Augustus.

The mausoleum was connected to the Campus Martius by a new bridge, the Pons Aelius (modern Ponte Sant’Angelo), which Hadrian also commissioned. The structure was topped with a large earthen tumulus planted with trees and crowned by a quadriga—a bronze statue of Hadrian driving a chariot. Internally, the building housed a series of spiraling corridors leading to the central burial chamber, which was likely adorned with elaborate decorations and sculptures. After Hadrian’s death in 138 CE, his remains, along with those of subsequent emperors up to Caracalla (reigned 211–217 CE), were interred here.

Late Roman and Early Byzantine Periods
By the late 3rd century CE, the mausoleum had lost its funerary function and was incorporated into the defensive fortifications of Rome. The Aurelian Walls, constructed in 271–275 CE by Emperor Aurelian, incorporated the structure due to its strategic location on the right bank of the Tiber. During the 5th and 6th centuries CE, the structure was repurposed as a military fortress to defend against barbarian invasions. In 537 CE, during the Gothic War, the Ostrogoths, led by King Vitiges, besieged Rome. The defenders used the mausoleum as a stronghold and famously hurled statues and other architectural elements from the building at the attackers to repel them.

Medieval Period
By the early Middle Ages, the mausoleum became a key component of Rome's fortifications. Its strategic position near the Vatican made it an ideal defensive structure for the city’s rulers. The first recorded association with the Church occurred during the 6th century when Pope Gregory I reportedly witnessed a vision of the Archangel Michael sheathing his sword atop the mausoleum, signifying the end of a devastating plague in 590 CE. This event led to the structure being renamed Castel Sant'Angelo. Throughout the 9th and 10th centuries, the castle was controlled by various Roman noble families, including the Crescentii and the Tusculani, who used it as a fortress and residence during periods of political instability.

Renaissance Period
In the 14th century, Pope Nicholas III (r. 1277–1280) connected Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican with a fortified passageway known as the Passetto di Borgo. This passage provided a secure escape route for the Pope in times of danger. Under Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492–1503) and subsequent Renaissance popes, the castle underwent significant renovations to strengthen its defenses and enhance its role as a papal residence. Bastions, walls, and artillery emplacements were added to adapt the structure to the evolving needs of gunpowder warfare. The papal apartments were also lavishly decorated, featuring frescoes by renowned artists like Perin del Vaga. In 1527, during the Sack of Rome by the troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Pope Clement VII took refuge in Castel Sant’Angelo via the Passetto di Borgo. The fortress successfully withstood the siege, further solidifying its reputation as a stronghold.

Baroque and Early Modern Periods
During the Baroque period, Castel Sant’Angelo retained its dual role as a fortress and a prison. The Papal States used it to detain political prisoners, including prominent figures such as the philosopher Giordano Bruno and the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The structure also housed a treasury and served as a refuge for the Pope during times of crisis. The bronze statue of the Archangel Michael, created by Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt in 1753, replaced an earlier statue and became the defining feature of the castle’s silhouette.

Modern Period
In the 19th century, Castel Sant’Angelo was used as a military barracks and prison. After the unification of Italy in 1870, the fortress lost its strategic significance and was decommissioned as a military structure. In 1901, the Italian government designated the building as a national museum. Since then, it has been restored and repurposed to house collections of art, artifacts, and historical exhibits, showcasing its diverse history as a mausoleum, fortress, papal residence, and prison. Today, it stands as a testament to Rome’s layered history, representing nearly two millennia of transformation and adaptation.

Architecture

circa 137 CE

Treasury Chamber or the Hall of Urns
At the heart of the ancient monument, Mausoleum of Hadrian, lies the so-called "treasury chamber" or the "Hall of Urns". This is where the remains of Hadrian and members of the Imperial family up to Caracalla were laid to rest. Originally, the room's ceiling was decorated with stucco and the walls covered in marble; in particular, proof of the presence of this marble comes from the holes of the iron hooks that were used to secure the marble tiles. The urns had to be placed on the lintels inside the two large niches that open out on the walls.

circa

Bastion of Saint John
The Bastion of Saint John (Bastione San Giovanni) is located in the south-eastern corner of the outer ramparts that surround the circular Hardianic Mausoleum.

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See Also

References

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