Castel Sant'Angelo

The Castel Sant'Angelo was the third item on my short list of things I really wanted to see while in Rome, like the Colosseum I had seen it from the outside, but not inside.  It was built as Hadrian's tomb in 138 AD.  It later evolved into a fortress, prison and secure hiding place for Popes and other leaders.  It is connected to the Vatican by by a raised passage way, more than once Pope's have fled down that passageway and taken secure refuse inside the walls of the fortress.  The Papal apartments are on upper levels, be prepared for lots and lots and lots of ancient stone steps.  There is a snack bar and cafe at the top behind the crenellated wall, I had a really nice lunch there.