With the arrival of the 1500s, further additions would be made. Pope Julius II (the same Pope who commanded Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel) had a loggia beautifully frescoed overlooking the Ponte Elia, today’s Bridge of the Angels. From there he had the vantage point to view the executions taking place at the far end of the bridge. Designed by the Baroque heavyweight this masterpiece is not to be missed.

View the secret tunnel that the Popes used to escape the Vatican Museums in times of war. You can't go too far though... there are Swiss guard blocking the entrance to the Vatican City!

A tour of Castel St’Angelo transports you through the diverse layers of Roman history in magnificent style. Originally the mausoleum of the Emperor Hadrian from 123AD, we explore the huge ramparts and fortifications and climb the internal helicoidal ramp leading to the room of the urns. Here were housed the remains of Emperors and we walk across the drawbridge intended to make their last resting place virtually impregnable. The strategic importance of this fortress was not lost on the Popes. We will see Il Passetto, an elevated corridor linking the Castel to Vatican City. Built for Pope Nicholas III in 1277, this passage acted as an escape route for at least two Popes fleeing for their lives. As an important papal refuge, we then marvel at the additions and embellishments made by subsequent Popes to ensure a safe and comfortable period of exile. Admission Tickets are included in the price of the tour. We finish the tour with Rome's best viewpoint.