Other than wasting over an hour waiting on buses, today was a good day. We took the bus all the way down to Piazza Cavour (the 990 P Cavour has been our bus since we got here - we have just never gone to the end of the line before). It is a very pretty piazza with a statue of C. Cavour in the middle. The Ministry of Justice building is on the square and it is a magnificent building.
But, the reason we went was to see the castle. It was built as Hadrian's mausoleum. Hadrian was the emperor of Rome from 117 til 138. Then later it was used as a fortress by the popes - some had apartments in the castle. The papal treasury was within its walls. Then it was used as a prison. Today it is a museum which holds some of the Vatican's treasures.
It was a very impressive edifice! There was a large ramp going up around the inside. And then steps going up to the Urn Room which was where Hadrian's cremated remains were placed. Then more steps up to the papal apartments and treasury. But the best part was climbing stairs up to the terrace on top. All of Rome is laid out before you in a 360 degree panorama! It was amazing.
On the way down we walked all the way around the ramparts which were just as I imagined. Slots to shoot arrows, etc. and slots through which to pour boiling oil or some such on anyone attacking! It was great.
The castle is right next to the Tiber and Hadrian had a bridge built to connect it to Rome. One of the popes in the 1600s had the bridge redone with statues of angels sculpted by Bernini. Actually, Bernini sculpted 2 of the statues before he died and the pope kept those two! So the sculpted angels are not really by Bernini. It is truly beautiful!
After the castle we stopped and had lunch before another LONG wait for the bus! Megan - you would be really happy here - pizza every day!
Enjoy the pics.
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