The Castel Sant’Angelo… it is now a museum, but it was built to be the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian in 139 (construction finished when Hadrian died). Besides the emperor, more people are buried here, including famous emperors like Marcus Aurelius, Caracalla, or Septimius Severus.
In the 5th century, they included the castle in the Aurelian Walls, so its role changed: now it was part of Rome’s defense, a “castello” trying to hold invaders before they crossed the Tiber.
The name “Angelo” (angel) comes from the fact (or legend) that, in 590, when Pope Gregory crossed the Tiber on the Aelian Bridge, he had a vision of the archangel Michael on top of the mausoleum sheathing his sword, indicating the end of the epidemic plaguing the city. (listen to the audio)
After being in the hands of various Roman noble families, in the 14th century, the “castello” passed to the pontiff, who then built the Passetto, a fortified corridor leading from the castle to the Apostolic Palace, next to St. Peter’s Basilica. In times of danger, popes occasionally used it to escape. (listen to the audio)
In the hands of the popes, the castle served various purposes: residence, prison, fortification. Pope Clement VII even managed to survive a seven-month siege during the “Sack of Rome” in 1527 by the troops of Emperor Charles V.
Take a picture that shows both the castle and the bridge at the same time.
… on top of the monument recalls the moment when the Archangel Michael freed Rome from the plague that was devastating the city. In your life, you surely have or have had some “plague,” a difficult moment, a dark situation, moments of abandonment, etc. Do you know that God assigns each of us a guardian angel?
“Angel of the Lord, who is my guardian because providence assigned you to me, enlighten me, guard me, guide me, and govern me on this day, AMEN.”
… “Passetto,” the wall connected to the castle, leading towards the Vatican (to the left if you are facing the entrance).
Find the arches: look in the direction of “the corridor” and then find a quieter spot in the garden.
Spend some time and think: When in your life was it useful to “escape“? When have you faced a situation head-on? Consider a current problem and contemplate how you will confront it instead of “escaping.”
Find a person and ask them if they know what the “Passetto” is. If he doesn’t know, tell him.
