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Castle Sant'Angelo & Bridge of Angels [Hadrian's Mausoleum]
The beautiful Castel Sant'Angelo, aka the Mausoleum of Hadrian, has a long and fascinating history. The construction of this great building started in year 135 AD and finished just 4 years later.
This included the bridge in front of the castle - Hadrian never got to see his mausoleum completed, he died one year before it was completed. Ponte Sant’Angelo is to this day the most beautiful bridge in the world. Its regularity, symmetry, openness to light, and perfect distance between arches and water surface make it unique not to mention the precious materials it is made of, and the monumental impact it has altogether. It is the bridge that connects the Eternal City to Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The highlight of the structure are the statues of the angels. There are ten statues, each symbolizing the Passion of Christ. In 1667, Clement IX entrusted Bernini with the task of sculpting the angels. As you approach the bridge it makes a symbolic passageway where the humble and the proud are reminded of what they deserve. the statues of Saint Peter holding the keys of heaven and Saint Paul holding the broken sword. The first angel holds up the flagging column to which Jesus was tied. Second angel, holds the whips that wounded the Lord. The third angel, presents the crown of thorns, The fourth angel, observes with pity the face of Christ impressed in blood on the Veil of Veronica. The fifth angel, carries the garment and dice. The sixth angel, holds the nails that pierced the hands and feet of Jesus. The seventh angel, holds the cross, The eight angel uncurls the INRI superscription, The ninth angel, observes the sponge attached to the end of his stick, The tenth and last angel, the spear wounded the heart of Jesus. The Castle is located on the banks of the Tiber river in the heart of Rome, It's close to the Vatican City. The emperor’s ashes were placed in the mausoleum, together with his wife and his adopted son that died very young. The mausoleum became a resting place for several his successors. The last one was Emperor Caracalla in year 217 AD. While the original structural design of the mausoleum is uncertain, historians believe it was composed of a square base with a large cylindrical body, crowned by a statue of Hadrian riding a chariot. The first change took place when the mausoleum was turned into a fortress during the decline of the Roman Empire. The fortress however not stop the barbaric invasions and the sacking of Rome in the early 5th century. During the sacking the majority of the decorations were stolen and much of the tomb content were scattered. The mausoleum took further damage when Rome was sacked once again in the 6th century. Up until the Middle Ages, the Papal state took possession of the fortress in 1377. the fortress was strategically located at the northern entrance to Rome - close to the Vatican City and the Tiber River. Pope Nicolas III quickly converted the old fortress into a proper castle and connected the castle to St Peter’s Basilica with the famous elevated passage that's now known as Passetto di Borgo and as seen earlier, still exists today on the west side of the castle. The wall-like structure leading all the way to the Vatican City is a fortified passage atop of this wall and allowed for a quick and secure passage between the two buildings, in case of danger, since the Vatican was not fortified back then,. pope Alexander VI around the walls dug a moat filled with the waters of the Tiber.
Category | Education |
Sensitivity | Normal - Content that is suitable for ages 16 and over |
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