National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo

Rome, a city that dominated much of the Mediterranean throughout history and left its everlasting mark across Europe, is home to some of the most significant museums in the world. These exhibition spaces showcase artifacts and artworks spanning multiple eras—think of the Capitoline Museums, the Vatican Museums, and the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo. Architecturally, Castel Sant’Angelo is a remarkable engineering feat, which also includes the famous Passetto di Borgo. Added to this is a fascinating collection of historical and archaeological artifacts, making the ancient Mausoleum of Hadrian a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the Eternal City.

National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo: What to See

The National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo was officially established in 1925 and houses an extensive collection, including paintings, period furniture, sculptures, memorabilia of the Italian Army, and exhibits dedicated to the Girandola fireworks display, showcased in the Sala del Castellano.

Each artifact in the museum is linked to specific historical periods that shaped the origins and evolution of what was once Hadrian’s Mausoleum. The Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered its construction between 123 and 134 AD to serve as a monumental tomb for himself and his family. Over time, the mausoleum also housed the ashes of other Roman emperors, the last being Caracalla.

As centuries passed, Castel Sant’Angelo transformed into a fortress, fought over by various medieval noble families such as the Orsini, Crescenzi, and Perleoni, before eventually becoming papal property and a papal residence.

Visiting the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo is like taking a journey back in time to ancient Rome. For example, along the Cordonata of Pope Paul III, which connects the entrance of the mausoleum to the Marcia Ronda, visitors will find two niches housing busts from the 2nd century AD—one depicting a togatus (a man wearing a toga) and the other a portrait of Emperor Hadrian himself. The Cordonata was designed by Crispo Tiberio, the castle warden under Pope Paul III Farnese.

In the Ambulacro of Boniface IX, located between the outer walls and the main structure of the mausoleum, visitors can see the remains of an ancient Roman pavement and a Roman-era base. Also worth noting is The Parlatoio, a room leading to the historical prison cells, where prisoners were once interrogated. A grate in the floor reveals the remnants of Roman walls, while display cases showcase instruments of torture used in the past to extract confessions—whether truthful or not.

The Artworks Inside the Museum

A guided tour of the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo includes a visit to the Sala Paolina, which houses the most important decorative cycle of the 16th century, painted by Perin del Vaga. Here, visitors can admire depictions of Alexander the Great in various scenes of his life, the Archangel Michael, Emperor Hadrian, and impressive trompe l’oeil works.

In the Sala Clemente VIII, visitors can view massive doors from the Armory of Clement X, which was once attached to the Bastion of St. Luke. This room also houses the portal of the Sala della Giustizia (Hall of Justice), where Giordano Bruno was sentenced to death for heresy, as well as a monumental fireplace decorated with the Barberini family’s coat of arms.

Continuing the tour, visitors reach the Chapel of Leo X, a small and simple space featuring its most prized possession: a bas-relief by Raffaello da Montelupo, depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child.

One of the most fascinating rooms inside Hadrian’s Mausoleum is the Sala di Perseo (Hall of Perseus). Here, frescoes narrate the mythological feats of Perseus, as told in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”. This room displays remarkable artworks, including St. Jerome by Lorenzo Lotto, St. Onuphrius, Christ Blessing by Carlo Crivelli, and the Lamentation over the Dead Christ, a 15th-century wooden sculpture from the Lombard school. The sculpture portrays Jesus, just taken down from the cross, surrounded by mourners grieving his death.

The Sala di Amore e Psiche (Hall of Cupid and Psyche), filled with sensual depictions, was originally the bedroom of Pope Paul III Farnese. Among the displayed works are The Bath by Giovanni Luteri (known as Dosso Dossi) and Christ Bearing the Cross by Paris Bordone.

Among the other masterpieces housed in the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo, notable mentions include:

The Feast of the Gods (a copy of the original by Giovanni Bellini, exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.)
Young Woman with a Unicorn by Pietro Longhi, gazing directly at the viewer
Portrait of Prospero Farinacci by Cavalier d’Arpino

The guided tours of the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo also include a stop at the Terrazza dell’Angelo (Angel’s Terrace) to see the bronze statue of the Archangel, created in 1753, and the bell, which was tolled before every execution carried out at the castle.

Finally, the Armory contains military artifacts, including:

A dagger scabbard belonging to the Landsknechts
The Bolzano Helmet, a Saxon-made piece of craftsmanship
A banner of the Bombardiers, who were stationed at Castel Sant’Angelo
A Garibaldian uniform
One of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s pistols

A visit to the National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo is an unmissable journey through Roman history, art, and military heritage, offering an unforgettable experience in the heart of Rome.