Ponte Sant’Angelo is a pedestrian bridge across the Tiber in Rome, linking the historic centre with Castel Sant’Angelo. Built under Emperor Hadrian and completed around AD 134, it was originally called Pons Aelius and provided a grand approach to his mausoleum. Three of its central arches survive from the Roman bridge.
The bridge takes its present name from a medieval legend in which the Archangel Michael appeared above the mausoleum, signalling the end of a plague. In the 1660s, Pope Clement IX commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to design a series of angels bearing the instruments of Christ’s Passion. Bernini carved two himself; their originals are now in the church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, while copies stand on the bridge alongside sculptures by other artists.
It’s a short walk with plenty to take in: the angels’ expressive faces, the river below and the cylindrical bulk of Castel Sant’Angelo ahead. Come early for a quieter view, or at dusk to see the bridge and castle illuminated. Keep an eye on your belongings in crowds, and wear shoes with good grip, as the stone can be slippery after rain.
Ponte Sant’Angelo fits naturally into a walk between Piazza Navona, Castel Sant’Angelo and St Peter’s Square. The bridge is free to cross and open to pedestrians, so you can pause for photographs without having to plan around an admission time.