Castel Sant'Angelo

I didn't discover Castel Sant'Angelo until my second trip to Rome and then it became possibly my favorite place in the whole city. Why?  For one, its a castle and I love castles and fortresses. Second, it has an awesome little museum full of guns, swords and armor.  They didn't allow me to take any pictures but I did bring my sketch book and drew several things.  Third, the view.  It has a better view than St. Peter's and that's no easy achievement.

The castle sits right along the Tiber river that flows through Rome.  It's also on the street that leads to the Vatican and it's the tallest building around.  You literally cannot miss it.   
It started life as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor Hadrian.  But in 401, when the Empire was in more dire straights, (not the band) they converted into a fortress and made it a part of the city's defenses. 
It costs a few Euro to get in, but it's worth it.  Even before you reach the top there are many sights.  There's a small courtyard high up in the big cylinder part. The architecture is very unique and the angel statue there is amazing.  It was angel that originally stood on top of the castle but switched it out in the 1700's for some Flemmish guy's angel.

Then you get to see where the Pope would stay and where many people survived sieges and attacks.  Caterina Sforza, the Italian Matriarch who's iron fist would put the Godfather to shame, was holed up here during an attack and refused to surrender. You can learn about this amazing woman here.
Okay, I'm sure you're all asking "What about the secret passage that leads from the Vatican to the castle?  The super secret one that nobody knows about?"
Well.....
You see that fortified medieval wall that runs from the bottom right corner and makes a straight line to the Vatican?  That's your super secret passage.  It's not super and it's not secret. Everyone knows about.  Heck, the tour guides will tell you all about it

Oh, to the right, that was my neighborhood when I lived there. I'd walk to two blocks to the Vatican, take a left down a long, wide avenue and go chill at the top of the castle for a while with my sketchbook. In the above picture you can see the walls of Vatican city. 
There is a snack bar by the museum in case you get the munchies from too much awesomeness.
Let's look at some more views inside the castle before we go to the top. 
                         Below is the "Bridge of Angels." It's called that because of all the angel statues.

Below is a view of the Tiber River, very historic and very pretty.  I'll have a post just about that river later.

Here's a siege weapon, like a ballista, a giant crossbow that hurls stone balls.

Inside the outer walls.

A close up of the ancient Roman part of the Mausoleum. 

Okay, now let's go through the Pope's pad...

To the roof.

The angel there and thus the name of the castle, comes from a terrible plague that when it finally ended, it was said that they saw the angel Michael sheathing his sword to call off the plague. 
But you came here for the view.  Check it out!
                                                      Ah!  Roma!  I love this city!

In the above picture, see how many famous landmarks you can see.  1. Pantheon.  2. Old government building on Capitaline Hill. 3.the Colloseum. 4. Palatine Hill. 5. the giant marble column thingy that's huge; the monument to  Victor Emmanuel II.  6. Waldo.
If you really want to see "The Eternal City," you have to go the the castle and go to the top.  You'll thank me.