You’re planning a holiday in Rome, you’re making your travel itinerary and you’re wondering “is it worth visiting Castel Sant’Angelo?“
I am Andrea from castelsantangelorome.it, and in this article I will be happy to answer your question.
I will share with you my opinion on the Castel San’Angelo, which with over 1 million visitors a year is one of Rome’s most famous attractions and one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
I will take you through the reasons why I think this extraordinary castle is worth exploring, also taking into account the circumstances in which you might opt not to do so.
In addition, I will give you advice on when during the day and at which time of year you could make the most of your visit.
Ready? Let’s get started!
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: Quick Access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, Hadrian’s Tomb, the underground passages and much more.
You can cancel free of charge up to the day before the visit.
Contents
Is it Worth Visiting Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo?
The short answer is “absolutely yes“. The long answer is below.
Why is it worth visiting Castel Sant’Angelo?
When you plan a trip to Rome, a series of fascinating experiences await you: enjoying pasta alla carbonara, tasting Cesanese DOC wine, visiting the Colosseum and, of course, exploring the Castel Sant’Angelo.
Some might argue that admiring only the exterior of Castel Sant’Angelo is sufficient to appreciate its beauty. However,stepping through its doors offers an extraordinary experience that goes beyond the exterior.
The interior of the Castle offers a journey through the history and culture of Rome. Exploring its historical rooms, admiring works of art and discovering architectural details, one is completely immersed in the atmosphere of the Eternal City.
Each room tells a part of the history of Rome and its emperors, allowing visitors to connect with the city’s past.
You can visit the tomb of a Roman emperor, admire the art inspired by Raffaello, discover the theatre of fierce battles for centuries with leftover cannons, and drink a spritz with a breathtaking view of St Peter’s Basilica.
And that’s not all! The atmosphere inside the Castel Sant’Angelo is enchanted, with art and architecture coming together to create an environment that seems to transport visitors back in time. Here you can admire a piece of Michelangelo’s architecture, discover where the popes lived when they hid from their enemies and walk around the castle’s real moat.
If you are lucky, you might even have the opportunity to walk through the secret passage connecting the castle to the Vatican City, take a look at the toilet specially designed by Raphael for a pope and visit the cells of one of the most feared prisons in Roman history.
Although the exterior has its own charm, the full experience lies in entering and discovering what lies behind its majestic walls. In conclusion, visiting the Castel Sant’Angelo allows one to fully immerse oneself in Rome’s rich cultural heritage, offering an unforgettable experience.
Why would you consider not visiting it?
Without a doubt, the Castel Sant’Angelo is one of Rome’s most admired treasures. But when you ask me if it is worth a visit, my answer is unequivocally positive: absolutely yes!.
However, there are some factors to take into account.
Rome can become extremely crowded, especially during major events such as the Jubilee, New Year and during the spring and autumn seasons.
I highly recommend exploring the Castel Sant’Angelo, but only if you can avoid the long queues at the ticket office.
Otherwise, you could end up losing precious hours waiting, risking not being able to fully savour all that Rome has to offer, being considered the most romantic city in the world.
How to avoid wasting time in queues?
One of my key recommendations is to buy tickets online and book a specific time for your visit (even if you are travelling alone).
The queues can be quite long, especially on the busiest days, and hot summer weather conditions or spring and autumn rains may make waiting particularly uncomfortable.
The same principle also applies to the nearby St. Peter’s Basilica.
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: Quick Access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, Hadrian’s Tomb, the underground passages and much more.
You can cancel free of charge up to the day before the visit.
Is it Worth Entering Castel Sant’Angelo? Useful info
Approximately 2 hours. However, your visit time may vary depending on several factors: the type of company (whether you are travelling with children, alone or as a couple), your interest in art and history and the time you have available. For more information, read the article on how long it takes to visit Castel Sant’Angelo.
The optimal period for exploring the Castel Sant’Angelo ranges from January to April and from September to November. During these months, the flow of tourists tends to decrease, as it is more concentrated in high season periods such as spring, summer and New Year. These months are particularly favourable not only for the reduction in the number of visitors to Rome, but also for the hotel prices that tend to be more affordable, thus allowing for overall savings during your trip.
Of course, the Castel Sant’Angelo is known to be one of the busiest sites in Rome, which can make it difficult to avoid rush hours. However, there is a small stratagem that might prove useful: wait about a quarter of an hour after opening before starting your visit.
This tactic will allow you to take advantage of a short period when the crowds are still relatively small, giving you the chance to explore the castle with greater peace and less congestion. Of course, the situation may vary depending on the season and current events, so it is always advisable to check schedules and plan your visit according to the most up-to-date information available.
Full tickets cost €19, reduced tickets €7 (for 18-25 year olds). Children under the age of 18 pay €4 and on the first Sunday of each month admission is free. For more info, see ticket prices.
Conclusions
To close, the Castel Sant’Angelo unquestionably ranks among the top attractions in Rome, following only the Colosseum in terms of number of visitors, and certainly deserves to be included in your programme.
However, it is vital to book tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
I can guarantee you that this experience will be valuable and memorable. You won’t regret it, really.
Skip-the-line ticket Castel Sant’Angelo Rome: Quick Access
Buy online. Choose your preferred time. Visit Rome’s Castel Sant’Angelo, Hadrian’s Tomb, the underground passages and much more.
You can cancel free of charge up to the day before the visit.
Credits: Photo by Eleonora Francesca Grotto via Unsplash
