Did you know that one of the most exciting Viewpoints you can visit in Rome is right on top of Castel Sant’Angelo? I’m talking about the Terrazza dell’Angelo, the splendid setting named after the monumental sculpture of St Michael the Archangel that dominates it. If you are looking for information on the timetable, how to get to the Terrace of the Angel, and would like to get a preview of what you can admire on your next visit, read on for my little in-depth for you!
WAIT A MOMENT! Before going up to the Terrazzo dell’Angelo, I want to give you a brief warning: you should know that, given the celebrity of this splendid building, you will certainly encounter a long queue in front of the ticket offices to visit Castel Sant’Angelo and its terrace. To enter this attraction and skip the queue, I recommend that you buy your entrance ticket online. Click below to book your entrance and enter the Castel Sant’Angelo in an instant.
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: fast access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, the Sant’Angelo Bridge, the prisons and much more.
You can cancel free of charge up to the day before the visit.
Terrace of Castel Sant’Angelo: Description
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One of the most popular viewpoints in all of Rome, the Terrazzo dell’Angelo is the highest accessible point of Castel Sant’Angelo.
This overlook owes its name to the colossal statue of St Michael the Archangel that has dominated it for centuries. After being replaced several times, the present bronze sculpture, which stands on the castle’s ‘male’, was made in 1752 by the Flemish artist Peter Anton van Verschaffelt.
From 1758 comes the bronze bell flanking the statue, known as the Campana della Misericordia o dei Condannati, which rang out at executions held in the Cortile delle Fucilazioni.
From the Terrace, one can enjoy an unprecedented panoramic view of the centre of Historic Rome and follow the entire route of the Passetto di Borgo from the castle to the Vatican Palaces.
Timetables and Prices
- Can be visited at: Castel Sant’Angelo
- Address: Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00186 Rome RM
- Function: vantage point
- Public Access: free with entrance ticket to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo
- Hours: 09.00 – 19.30 (last entry at 18.30)
- Tickets: All tickets valid for admission to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo grant access to the Terrace of the Angel
Visit the Angel Terrace
To visit the Terrazzo dell’Angelo simply purchase a entrance ticket to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo.
The entrance ticket alone, in fact, guarantees access to this area which, except for specific maintenance work, is normally open to visitors.
The visiting hours are naturally linked to the opening hours of the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo, i.e. Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.00 to 19.30 with last admission at 18.00.
From the Terrazza dell’Angelo the Eternal City reveals itself almost at 360 degrees. Indeed, you can admire both banks of the Tiber River that separates the historic centre of Rome from the Vatican.
To the west of the castle you can admire the Basilica di San Pietro, with its famous dome by Michelangelo.
In addition to the Basilica, from the Terrazza dell’Angelo you can follow with your eyes the two main roads connecting the castle and the Vatican: the Passetto di Borgo walkway and the monumental Via della Conciliazione.
Looking across from the castle, you will see from above the majestic Ponte Sant’Angelo with its statues. If you walk along it with your eyes, you will come to the sixth district of Rome, the Parione, and you will be able to see, between the roofs of the houses, the wide dome of the Pantheon and the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia.
In the distance you can see the Italian flag flying over the Quirinale, residence of the President of the Republic.
Looking to the east, over the Prati district, you cannot fail to notice the imposing silhouette of the Supreme Court of Cassation. Behind this building you can also see a small part of the Villa Borghese Park, the city’s green lung.
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: fast access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, the Sant’Angelo Bridge, the prisons and much more.
Puoi annullare gratis fino al giorno precedente alla visita.
Terrace of Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: Curiosities
Over the centuries, the Terrazzo dell’Angelo has been the scene of many curious events. This evocative place, for example, was the setting for one of the most famous dramas.
La Tosca, heroine of the historical drama by Victorien Sardou and the opera based on Puccini, in the last act then throws herself from here after her lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, has just been deceived in the Castel Sant’Angelo.
Remaining in the sphere of art, it is well known that, as far back as 1481, the fireworks of the spectacle known as La Girandola were fired from this terrace. If you want to know more, run and read my article on the Girandola of Castel Sant’Angelo.
There was also a curious ambiguity about the name of the Terrazza dell’Angelo that led many to think that it was possible to eat breakfast, lunch or an aperitif on the top of Castel Sant’Angelo.
However, on the Terrazzo dell’Angelo there is no restaurant, whereas two floors below, at the level of the Le Terrazze, you will find the Caffetteria Ristorante Le Terrazze, the only restaurant inside the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo, where you can actually enjoy food and drinks with a breathtaking view of Rome.
I wanted to write a short article on the subject. If you want to know more, read my post on the Terrazze di Castel Sant’Angelo.
How to Get to The Terrace of Castel Sant’Angelo
To climb the Terrazzo dell’Angelo you must first reach Castel Sant’Angelo. You can choose to do so by bus (lines 23, 115, 271, 280, 62, 982, 40, 34, 49, 190F), by metro (Lepanto and Ottaviano stations), by train (Roma San Pietro station), by car or on foot.
Once inside the museum, the most direct route to the terrace is as follows:
from the outer courtyard enter the Dromos and then the Atrium, walk along the helical ramp and the diameter ramp, passing the Urna Room;
when you reach the Cortile dell’Angelo, take the staircase in front at the exit; then walk along the Loggia di Giulio II, enter the Sala Paolina and enter the Corridoio Pompeiano;
once in the Library Room, you must climb the last ramp that passes next to the Treasure Room and the Column Room.
There you are at your destination!
Castel Sant’Angelo Terrace: Tickets
Unlike other areas of Castel Sant’Angelo, the Terrazzo dell’Angelo can be freely visited without the accompaniment of an official guide.
All tickets valid for entrance to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo, in fact, guarantee access to the Terrazza dell’Angelo.
However, it is possible – and in many ways advisable – to book a visit with an audio guide or a guided tour of the castle.
Below I leave you our selection of the best tickets to enjoy your visit to the castle andthe Angel’s Terrace.
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: fast access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, the Sant’Angelo Bridge, the prisons and much more.
You can cancel free of charge up to the day before the visit.
Terraces of Castel Sant’Angelo: FAQ
To go inside Castel Sant’Angelo it is necessary to purchase a entrance ticket to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo.
The entrance tickets to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo have varying prices depending on the accessory services desired.
The price of the standard ticket with reserved entrance starts at €19, with the addition of the audio guide the basic price rises to €32, while the cost of the guided tour starts at €37.
You can also buy a combined ticket with other attractions in Rome or the Vatican.
If you are staying in Rome for a few days and don’t want to miss anything, you may find it convenient to purchase the Rome Pass (from €55) or the Rome Tourist Card (from €95).
Inside the Castel Sant’Angelo, you can still admire the Tomb of Hadrian, the circular staircase, the Papal lodgings, the frescoes, the campus of executions, the Grande Loggia, the bastions, the well-preserved fortress rooms, and much more.
Admission is free every first Sunday of the month. No reservations are required on free admission days.
Terrace of the Angel: Conclusions
Here ends my little exploration of the Angel’s Terrace.
In this post, I wanted to talk to you about the highest point of Castel Sant’Angelo, giving you a brief description and providing useful information on timetables and prices.
I have given you a few anticipations of what you can admire from this spectacular viewpoint.
I have also told you some curiosities about the terrace and provided you with all the indications to get there.
As always, I ended the article by spending a few minutes on the most frequently asked questions.
If you need more information, please leave a comment below; if you would like to visit the Castle and the Angel Courtyard, purchase your ticket and skip the ticket line.
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: fast access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, the Sant’Angelo Bridge, the prisons and much more.
You can cancel free of charge up to the day before the visit.
