From any location to Rome, to the Castel Sant Angelo
Getting from any port, any airport or station to Rome is simple, courtesy of Rome Transfer’s luxurious car service. Once you have finished the transfer, it is time to start exploring the city, perhaps beginning at the Castel Sant Angelo.
The Emperor Hadrian built the monumental cylindrical building, today known as the Castel Sant Angelo, as a mausoleum for himself and his wife, Sabina, between 134 and 139 AD. This brick-faced monument was originally covered in rich marble decorations and topped with a golden chariot pulled by four horses. These chari-ots, known as a quardriga, were symbols of victory and frequently decorat-ed the tops of triumphal arches, like the Arch of Constantine. In fact the chariots on top of the Vittorio Emanuele II monument in Piazza Venezia, recall just these an-cient sculptures. You will also feel like a triumphant emperor, as our drivers navi-gate the hectic traffic in Rome to get you to your destination quickly and peacefully.
As Rome grew, the mausoleum was incorporated into the Aurelian wall, much like the Pyramid of Cestius and the Tomb of the Baker Eurysaces. In 401 AD, the mau-soleum was converted into a military fortress. It was used as a stronghold against the barbarian invasions of Rome in 410 and 537. In the late-sixth century, the mau-soleum was called the Castel Sant Angelo, the Castel of the Holy Angel. Though there are many legends for the name’s origin, most popularly it is believed that the Archangel Michael was seen alighting on the roof and sheathing his sword, marking the end of the plague in 590 AD.
Arrive at Castel Sant Angelo in style after your initial transfer to Rome
If you would like a rest after your initial journey to Rome, with your admission ticket, you can go on the roof and admire the statues and an exquisite panorama of Rome. In the summer, wonderful breezes make this an ideal spot to enjoy the city and escape the heat! With the rise of the papal state, the Castel Sant Angelo was soon taken over by the Papacy. In fact, Pope Nicholas III even built the Passetto Borgo, a protected passageway between the Castel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Clement VIII took advantage of this passageway to seek refuge in the fortress during the Sack of Rome in 1527. Over the years several popes enriched the for-tress with decorations until it resembled a palace. For example, Raffaello Mon-telupo was commissioned by Pope Leo X to paint the Chapel of the Virgin, and the artist also sculpted a marble statue of the Archangel Michael sheathing his sword for the roof in 1536. This marble statue was later replaced by a bonze sculpture by Peter Anton von Verschaffelt, a Flemish sculptor in 1753. Today, the Castel Sant Angelo is a museum, which you can visit to see the beautiful decorations, fascinat-ing architecture, and even enjoy a cappuccino and pastry at the rooftop café! Our drivers are safety certified so you won’t need a fortified passageway to safely fin-ish your transfer from to Rome!
The Ponte Sant Angelo
Any journey to Rome would not be complete without seeing one of Rome’s most iconic sites, the Ponte Sant Angelo. This was the original ancient Roman bridge built by Hadrian in 134 AD to span the Tiber and connect his mausoleum to the city. Un-der Pope Clement IX in the late-seventeenth century, Gianlorenzo Bernini and his workshop decorated it with angels bearing the instruments of the Passion of Christ. The two most famous angels were those sculpted by Bernini himself: the Angel with the Crown of Thorns and the Angel with the Superscription. The Pope deemed these too beautiful to stand outside, so copies were made. You can see the breath-taking originals in the church S. Andrea delle Fratte. You might even consider cros-sing the bridge and getting a gelato at Gelateria del Teatro, before seeing the origi-nal angels at S. Andrea delle Frate. Our transfer service is ready and waiting to help you with your next transfer anywhere in Rome