Castel Sant'Angelo (literally meaning Castle of the Holy Angel) also known as Mausoleum of Hadrian, is a towering cylindrical building in Rome, Italy. Castel Sant'Angelo was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum.
Castel Sant'Angelo was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, the building was once the tallest building in Rome.
Castel Sant'Angelo is far bigger than Choumeizai expects, there are streets, squares and shops inside the castle, making the castle like a small city.
Now the castle has become a museum and one of the popular tourist attractions in Rome, most of the structure still preserve the middle aged appearance, it is worth spending some time walking around.
From the restaurants inside the castle, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Rome and Vatican, an ideal place to chill if you are hungry and tired.
It was said that the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590, thus lending the castle its present name.
There are several small exhibition halls inside the castle, showcasing the ancient weaponry, some of them can date back to middle age.
Castel Sant'Angelo was once the tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian; it was erected on the right bank of the Tiber, built between AD 134 and 139. Hadrian's ashes were placed here a year after his death, together with those of his wife and his first adopted son.
