Passetto di Borgo
Passetto di Borgo
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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dapper777
Monaco66,071 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
The Passetto, also known as the 'Corridor' of the Borgo, is the longest remaining stretch of the walls that Leo IV had built between 848 and 852 AD. to defend the Vatican area from any Saracen invasions, creating a fortified citadel that took the name of Civitas Leoniana Leonine Citadel from the name of the pope himself.
The Passetto was built in 1277 using a stretch of the Vatican Walls to which the roof was added. Over the centuries other popes endowed and strengthened it with patrol walkways, battlements, watchtowers, raised it and fortified it.
The structure now consists of an open walkway, which was used by the guards in charge, and a closed corridor below, which was conceived to be used in case of danger by the Pope.
The strategic importance of the Passetto emerged most in the darkest and most painful periods for Rome and for the Church itself.
In fact, it was used by Alexander VI of the Borgia family when in 1494 he walked the 800 meters to find refuge in Castel Sant'Angelo during the invasion of Rome by the militias of Charles VIII of France (1494).
In 1527, the Passetto was also used as an escape route by Pope Clement VII of the Medici family who took refuge in Castel Sant'Angelo during the Sack of Rome by the Landsknechts, (German-speaking mercenaries) of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (1527).
This is the last major undertaking linked to the Passetto, which at the end of the sixteenth century saw its defensive function wane.
Only in the following centuries, when the walls needed restoration, it was a long covered passage that runs straight from the apostolic palaces to the fortress of Castel S.Angelo.
The Passetto di Borgo is a little known curiosity of the story of the Vatican.
Nonetheless it is very interesting to know the history of this passage and to imagine, when we pass under its arches, how life was in those times
This is not a place normally accessible to the public, but only through guided tours.
The Passetto was built in 1277 using a stretch of the Vatican Walls to which the roof was added. Over the centuries other popes endowed and strengthened it with patrol walkways, battlements, watchtowers, raised it and fortified it.
The structure now consists of an open walkway, which was used by the guards in charge, and a closed corridor below, which was conceived to be used in case of danger by the Pope.
The strategic importance of the Passetto emerged most in the darkest and most painful periods for Rome and for the Church itself.
In fact, it was used by Alexander VI of the Borgia family when in 1494 he walked the 800 meters to find refuge in Castel Sant'Angelo during the invasion of Rome by the militias of Charles VIII of France (1494).
In 1527, the Passetto was also used as an escape route by Pope Clement VII of the Medici family who took refuge in Castel Sant'Angelo during the Sack of Rome by the Landsknechts, (German-speaking mercenaries) of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (1527).
This is the last major undertaking linked to the Passetto, which at the end of the sixteenth century saw its defensive function wane.
Only in the following centuries, when the walls needed restoration, it was a long covered passage that runs straight from the apostolic palaces to the fortress of Castel S.Angelo.
The Passetto di Borgo is a little known curiosity of the story of the Vatican.
Nonetheless it is very interesting to know the history of this passage and to imagine, when we pass under its arches, how life was in those times
This is not a place normally accessible to the public, but only through guided tours.
Written 17 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
monaHungary
Piliscsaba, Hungary951 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Have a look on the left of the castle Sant'Angelo in front of you. The wall with several arches links the apostolic palace to the castle Sant'Angelo. It is an emergency exit for the pope in case of attack on the apostolic palace. This passage on top of the wall, 50 meters above the ground was built by Leon IV (847-855) and renovated by Alexandre VI in 1227. The apostolic palace is full of these kinds of secrets, but unfortunately this passage remains closed to visitors.
Written 7 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth P
Pittsboro, NC5 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
Great time to go! We went to the coliseum, did a tour but could have just gone ourselves. Although, with the tour we got the super sight passes to visit all sites open in the forum. We spent 14 hours at the Vatican. And that didn’t include St. Peter’s Basilica. We got tickets for breakfast at the Vatican and that was an awesome time to go as we got into the museum early.. get the audio guide and there are lots of information on everything you are looking at. We did three tours — Pompeii and Positano and the Amalfi Coast was one tour. It was raining so not as enjoyable as it could have been. Went to a small pastry shop and had some excellent cakes with our lemoncello. Everyone raves about that, but not my thing even though I gave it a shot. Another tour was Hadrian’s Villa and Ville d’Este.. both good.. the fountains were ll off though because of a big storm that dirtied the water so therefore couldn’t have them on.. still a great tour, but disappointed with no fountains. Tour was with Get Your Guide and their meeting place was at a bus stop.. didn’t like that because hard to know who is who and was crowded. City Tours meets at a piazza which was so much better. Tuscany tour was the best tour.. going to Monteplicano, wine tour and countryside was the best.. tour guide was first day, so not as good. Not much information from her. Biked the Appian way - would recommend if you have a day to spare and just get away from the hustle and bustle. The tours also were away from Rome. We walked and did the metro.. metro very easy and cheap. Do NOT recommend Rome for children and probably most teens. Saw a lot of bored teens with their parents and for kids, nothing really for them.. the car and motorbike traffic is atrocious so be on the alert for that and buses when crossing streets. Nobody wants to let you go.. lol..be bold but smart. Saw at least 2 obvious pickpockets stalking people. Wear your backpack in front and keep valuables at the bottom of backpack.. most pickpocketed work in teams, one to distract you- the other to pilfer. We spent 7 full days - one day coliseum and forum and super sights- one day Vatican- one day Pompeii tour- one day Tivoli tour - one day St Peter’s Basilica and Appian Way with catacomb tour- one day Tuscany tour and one day churches and Borghese Museum.. get tickets ahead of time before you go.. look up and research times of when museums and churches open. We were prepared of what’s open when and what days. We stayed within the city limits close to Barbarini Metro, near Trevi fountain. All the fountains and Spanish steps and smaller churches were done while we walked to and from.
Written 26 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10,355 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This passage is built to provide the Pope with an escape route from the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo during times of siege of the Vatican. Unless you know what you are looking for it looks just like another wall of fortification. A great view can be had from Castel Sant’Angelo, looking towards the Vatican.
Written 10 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can we book a tour of just the Passetto without Castel St. Angelo since we have been there. Charles
Written 14 July 2019
Bonjour.
Je suis intéressé par cette visite. Quel est le tarif ? Quelles sont les modalités ? Lieu du ticket ? Départ de la visite ?
En vous remerciant
Stephane
Written 26 July 2018
vous pouvez téléphoné directment au museé de Castel Sant' Angelo et demander. ils sont trés gentils. Vous pouvez choisir si prendre le guide ou non. j'ai acheté hier les tickets par telephone pour le passage sans guide. Au revoir
Written 24 August 2018
Gianni C
Etroubles, Italy
quanto dura il tour guidato " Castello Segreto " ? oltre al Passetto del Borgo cosa ti fanno vedere ?
Written 25 July 2018
Un’ora il tour guidato. Ne vale veramente la pena.
Written 5 August 2018
Ho scritto qui per errore la mia recensione di un ristorante che ha lo stesso nome del monumento in questione. Chi mi sa dire come si cancella una propria recensione? O come si può eventualmente cambiare l’oggetto?
Written 31 January 2018
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