latter name derives from its creator; the roman emperor Hadrian.

Exactly how the mausoleum used to look like during its peak is hard to say, as its original

design is still uncertain. However, a report from the 6th century which describes the building

has made historians believe that only the Colosseum surpassed it in splendor.

The construction of this great building started in year 135 AD and finished just 4 years later.

This also included the magnificent bridge in front of the castle; excluding the angels

which were added later. Hadrian never got to see his mausoleum completely finished,

as he died one year before its completion. The emperor's ashes were placed in the mausoleum,

together with those of his wife and his first adopted son who died at young age.

The mausoleum became a resting place for not only Hadrian, but also several of his successors.

The last one to be interred in the building was Emperor Caracalla in year 217 AD. While

the original structural design of the mausoleum is uncertain, historians believe it was composed

of a square base with a large cylindrical body, crowned by a statue of Hadrian in a

chariot. However, as you can see today, the Castel Sant'Angelo neither consists of only

a cylindrical body, nor does it have a chariot statue at the top. This is due to the fact

that the building has been serving several purposes throughout its history. This has

in turn which has lead to several expansions of the building.

The first change took place when the mausoleum was turned into a fortress during the decline

of the Roman Empire. The fortress could however not stop the barbaric invasions and the sacking

of Rome in the early 5th century. Unfortunately, the sacking meant that the majority of the

mausoleum decorations were stolen and much of the tomb content became scattered. The

mausoleum took further damage when Rome was sacked once again in the 6th century.

Up until the Middle Ages, Castel Sant'Angelo was owned by various Roman families until

the Papal state acquired the fortress in 1377. The Vatican saw great potential in the old

fortress, as it was strategically located at the northern entrance to Rome, close to

both the Vatican City and the Tiber River. It didn't take long for Pope Nicolas the 3rd

to convert it into a proper castle. The pope also connected the castle to St Peter's Basilica

with an elevated passage. The passage is known as Passetto di Borgo and still exists today.

If you look at the west side of the castle, you will see this wall-like structure which

leads all the way to Vatican City. The fortified passage is on top of this wall and allowed

for a quick and secure passage between the two buildings, in case of an emergency.

The Papal state did not only use this structure as a castle, but also as a prison where many

noted Italians have been imprisoned. Several executions took place in the small inner square

and sometimes the mutilated bodies were displayed on the bridge in front of the castle in deterring

purposes. Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance,

Castel Sant'Angelo kept serving as a military fortification. In order to adapt to the use

of new fire weapons, several expansions took place. The bastions you can see in each corner

dates back to this period and was meant to house artillery for defensive purposes. The

walls were also surrounded with a moat filled with water from the river Tiber.

If you look at the top of the castle, you can see a large statue. The statue was also

added during the Renaissance and depicts an angel. The angel honors an old legend which

has given the castle its current name. The legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared

atop the mausoleum in year 590. After he appeared, he sheathed his sword as a sign that the plague

which had tormented Rome finally had come to an end. The original statue was made in

marble, but was later replaced with the bronze replica you can see today. The original statue

can however still be found at the open court inside the castle.

The castle really only lost its military function in 1925, when it was renovated and began to

serve as a national museum, which it still does today. While the museum is certainly

worth a visit, you should definitely explore Castel Sant'Angelo itself.

The many different roles the castle has played are all here for you to discover; all the

way from the funeral passage of Hadrian to the beautifully-frescoed interiors from the

Papal expansions as well as the defensive battlements of the Renaissance.

Also, don't miss the chance to explore the top of the castle. It will give you a great

view over Rome in general and the St Peter's Dome in particular.