Castel Sant`angelo Pope`s Blessing and Ancient Rome
Castel Sant`angelo Angelo - Holy Father`s Blessing - Capitol - Roman Forum - Colosseum (internal visit) - St Peter in Chains
Leaving Piazza San Bernardo, adorned by Moses Fountain, the itinerary will continue passing by Via Veneto and Villa Borghese, surname of a family of Italian noble and papal background. Then we will reach the fortress Castel Sant' Angelo, which the original structure was built between the 117 and 138 A.D. and was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family.
Castel Sant'Angelo, whose name probably is the result of a miraculous apparition of Archangel St. Michael sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590 A.D., passed under the Papal State's property converting it in a fortress prison, in a castle and in a refuge for the Popes: Pope Nicholas III connected the castle to St. Peter's Basilica by a covered fortified corridor, a secret passage way called Passetto del Borgo.
Ended the visit of the fortress we'll walk along Via della Conciliazione having a wonderful panoramic view of the Basilica of St. Peter, to reach the square for the Holy Father's Blessing.
SKIP THE LINE!
With this tour you will enjoy the splendour of the classic Roman Empire. Leaving Piazza San Bernardo, adorned by Moses' Fountain, we will head to Piazza Venezia. Crossing the square we will admire on one side the Memorial to King Vittorio Emanuele II and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After this ample view of an important part of the city, the guided tour will take you to visit the square of the Capitol, the result of Michelangelo's architectonic and magic genius. Simple but stately, the square is the seat of Rome Town Hall, from here you will enjoy the unique sight of the Forum and of the Palatine Hill.
We will then walk along the ancient pavement, which crosses the evocative ruins of the Roman Forum, the Curia, the Reggia. You will then admire the Temple of Vesta, the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Costantine. The tour will continue with the visit of the massive structure of the Colosseum (internal visit). Originally named Flavian Amphitheatre it is a giant amphitheatre used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. The amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign. Finally we will reach and visit the church of St Peter in Chains admiring the Michelangelo's famous statue of Moses |
