Rome, Ponte San Angelo

The best approach to the Vatican is to walk across the Fiume Tevere (the Tiber River), on Ponte San Angelo, and walk past (or even walk into, which we have yet to do), Castel S. Angelo, Hadrian's Tomb (the building on the right edge of this photo), an imposing monument on the right bank of the Tiber. It was originally constructed (130 AD) as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian, later served as a papal stronghold, and was once connected to the Vatican by a secret underground passageway.

Ponte San Angelo is the most important and beautiful bridge of Rome. It was built at the same time as the Mausoleum of Hadrian (in 134 AD) and was named Ponte Elio, but when the mausoleum became a castle and took the name of Sant'Angelo, the bridge took the same name. The main function of the bridge was giving the passage for pilgrims on their way to St Peter's.

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