Castel Sant'Angelo has a millenary, pagan and Christian history. It was originally the dynastic tomb of the Imperial House, the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, which celebrated its greatness.

In late antiquity it was transformed into a stronghold, including it in the new defensive system created to face the invasions of the Goths. It was impregnable, and was defended by throwing large travertine balls at the enemies. Unfortunately the were made from the travertine blocks that once covered the Mausoleum.

In 590 during a solemn procession led by Pope St. Gregory the Great the Archangel Michael appeared to him on the top of the Castle as he sheathed his sword. It was the sign that the terrible plague of those years was about to end. From that moment on, the Mausoleum became Castel Sant'Angelo.

In the Lower armories there is a brand new educational exhibition that tells the story of the Castle with splendid plastic models that show the transformations of the building over almost two millennia. From the original Roman building with its bridge to the Renaissance one with its ramparts.

There are ancient engravings and very few surviving fragments of the building's marble decoration, which, as Procopius tells us, unfortunately was torn to pieces to throw them on the Goths of Vitige when they besieged the Castle in 537 AD. There is a relief with bucrania and garlands and a corner capital, which unfortunately are all that is left but give an idea of superb craftmanship.

 In the Vatican Museums there are two peacocks in gilded bronze which according to ancient sources decorated the gate of the fence surrounding the Mausoleum.

The rooms of Pope Paul III Farnese's apartment have been restored and reopened to the public: ancient paintings and sculptures are exhibited there. Those are the Sala di Perseo, that of Cupid and Psyche, the Sala dell'Adrianeo, the Sala dei Festoni and the Cagliostra, all frescoed by Perin del Vaga.

‼️ Another great creation of Emperor Hadrian.