Originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian in 123 AD, the Castel Sant'Angelo became a fortress linked to the Vatican via a secret passageway (the Passetto di Borgo), which is still in existence today. It was also used as a prison where inmates were executed. Behold the impressive statue of the Archangel Michael who appeared as a vision to Pope Gregory the Great in 590, ending the plague in Rome.

Today, it houses the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo, where visitors get to admire rare collections of artworks and even military memorabilia or medieval firearms from its tumultuous past. Gaze at its elegant Renaissance interiors and the extravagant Sala Paolina with frescoes portraying the life of Alexander the Great. Catch the romantic sunset over Rome on the terrace and watch the city light up when night falls.