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| Atop Castel Sant'Angelo |
Here we are atop what was once the tallest building in Rome, Castel Sant'Angelo. In the background you can see all along the right bank of the Tiber with St Peter's Basilica dominating the skyline. Initially, Hadrian (he of the wall) commissioned this as a mausoleum for himself and his family. And, indeed his ashes were here until the Visigoths played havoc with the place. But time passed, the Popes took it over and converted it into a castle in order to protect themselves from invaders. They built a covered fortified passage from the Castle to the Vatican. If you're familiar with Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, you will recognize this passage as playing a key role. There is a beautiful bridge built by Hadrian and now adorned with marble angels that leads to the Castle. Finally, the structure was used as a prison where some pretty famous people resided, Benvenuto Cellini among them. Today it is a museum empty of most contents.
Earlier in the day we toured the art gallery of the Palazzo Corsini which holds mainly Italian art from the early Renaissance to the late 18th century. It's small but associated with the Palazzo Barberini Gallery which we will visit later.
Observations of two visitors.
Winter in Rome is like spring in Massachusetts
Street Sweepers will always win the automobile right of way.
Jazz musicians playing on the Ponte Sisto are icing on the cake.
