How Far in Advance to Book Tickets to the Castel Sant' Angelo in Rome

The main route takes visitors through seven connected levels, each representing a different chapter in the building's history. The visit begins at the base and ascends via the original Roman ramp to the rooftop terrace.

The Roman base and Dromos: The outermost walls at ground level preserve the original Roman structure of Hadrian's mausoleum. The dromos is the ancient entrance passage that once carried the emperors' urns into the tomb. Several statues discovered during archaeological excavations are displayed here.

The helical ramp: One of the most physically striking features of the building is the ancient spiral ramp that climbs through the interior core. Originally built to carry funeral urns to the burial chamber, it was later used to move supplies and soldiers to the upper levels. Walking it gives a visceral sense of the scale and engineering of the original mausoleum.

The Hall of the Urns and burial chambers: The central chambers of the mausoleum, where the cremated remains of Hadrian and later emperors were housed, can be visited. The Hall of the Urns retains something of its original atmosphere despite centuries of later modifications.

The Courtyard of the Angel: A large open courtyard on the middle levels, named after the marble and bronze angel statues that once topped the building. The current bronze Archangel Michael on the rooftop, the work of Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt in 1752, is the sixth version to stand there; its predecessors were variously destroyed, melted down, or moved.

The prison cells: Castel Sant'Angelo served as a papal prison for several centuries, and the cells are among the most evocative rooms in the building. Notable prisoners held here included the sculptor and goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (who famously attempted escape) and the philosopher Giordano Bruno, who was held here for six years before his execution. Prisoner graffiti scratched into the walls is visible in several cells.

The Sala Paolina: The most magnificent room in the building, decorated with elaborate Renaissance frescoes commissioned by Pope Paul III and executed primarily by Perin del Vaga. The painted figures, trompe l'oeil architectural details, and dramatic scenes of St Michael the Archangel covering the walls and ceiling represent some of the finest secular Renaissance painting in Rome.

The papal apartments: Several rooms throughout the upper levels were decorated and furnished as a luxurious refuge for the popes who used the castle as a bolt-hole during times of danger. The Bathroom of Clement VII and the Hall of Cupid and Psyche, with its elaborate frescoes and richly decorated ceilings, illustrate the strange coexistence of military fortress and papal palace that characterised the building through the 15th and 16th centuries.

The armoury and art collections: An impressive collection of historic weapons, armour, and military equipment is displayed across several rooms, alongside paintings and decorative objects accumulated over centuries of papal occupation.

The Angel Terrace: The highest point of the castle and the undisputed highlight of any visit. The rooftop terrace is crowned by Verschaffelt's bronze Archangel Michael, and the panoramic view encompasses St Peter's Basilica and dome directly to the west, the Tiber winding north and south, the domes of the Pantheon and Sant'Agnese in Agone, the Palazzo di Giustizia, and on clear days the Alban Hills to the south-east. This is one of the finest viewpoints in Rome from a central position, and it is particularly extraordinary at sunset and in the evening sessions during summer.

A cafe and bar are located on the terrace, making it a civilised place to stop and absorb the view over a coffee or a glass of wine.