ENTRANCE TO CASTEL S. ANGELO

This is the entrance to St. Angelo Castle, a mausoleum built by emperor Hadrian in 130-139 for his family.The height is nearly 50m, the design belongs to Hadrian. The mausoleum consisted of a base 89m sq., supporting a round tower 64m in diameter of peperino and travertine overlaid with marble. It was trasformed into a castle thus the name, then into a prison by the King of Italy. It became a papal property and was used as a fortified defense of the pope's city. Being an official prison for many centuries Castel S.Angelo contains numerous prison cells, to begin with those built by Pius IV with the sizes that wouldn't permit a prisoner to stand on the legs and lie, the only position possible was sitting. In the so called Cortile Dal Pozzo, built by Alexander VI, were the cells reserved for important persons. Among numerous historical figures ended their days inside of the castle were 5 popes. In 897 by the cause of popular rising Stephan VI was sent here and strangled. In 903 Leo V was imprisoned and killed here by the order of anti-pope Cristopher. In 928 John X was deposed and strangled with a pillow. In 973 Benedict VI was deposed and strangled by anti-pope Boniface VII during the popular rising. In 984 John XIV was imprisoned and poisoned by the same anti-pope Boniface VII. In 1934, it was made into a museum.