Ponte Sant'Angelo

Originally built by Hadrian in 134 AD to connect his mausoleum to the rest of the city, the bridge still carries pedestrians across the Tiber on largely its original foundations, one of the oldest river crossings still in use in Rome. In the 17th century, Bernini and his workshop added ten dramatic angel statues along its balustrade, each holding a symbol of Christ's Passion, transforming a functional Roman crossing into an open-air Baroque gallery. The view from the bridge toward Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter's dome beyond is one of the most photographed in the city, especially at sunset. It's a natural link between a Vatican-area visit and the surrounding streets of the Borgo.