Is it worth
visiting?

Yes – especially if you’re looking for a unique way to enter Castel Sant’Angelo while avoiding the long queues. Check-in and security are straightforward, and the meeting point is easy to find.

There are two ways to experience the Passetto: with a guided tour or as an accompanied visit without commentary. In both cases, you’ll stroll through the historic passage at a relaxed pace, with plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the views – including some fantastic photo spots overlooking St Peter’s Basilica.

There’s not a huge amount to see inside the corridor itself, but walking through a passage once reserved exclusively for the Popes is a truly special experience in its own right.

Our verdict: We highly recommend it as one of the most memorable ways to visit Castel Sant’Angelo.

A brief history of the
Pope's secret escape route

The Passetto di Borgo was built in the 13th century under Pope Nicholas III and extended over the following centuries. Its purpose was simple: to provide the Pope with a safe escape route from the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo in the event of an attack.

The passage became famous in 1527 during the Sack of Rome, when Pope Clement VII fled through the Passetto as the troops of Emperor Charles V stormed and devastated the city. Thanks to this hidden corridor, the Pope reached the fortress safely while Rome was being plundered.

Not every Pope used the Passetto to escape. Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503), for example, is said to have used the passage to reach his private apartments in Castel Sant’Angelo, where he reportedly met his mistresses.

The secret corridor wasn’t reserved solely for Popes. Prisoners were also transported through the lower level of the passage to the dungeons beneath Castel Sant’Angelo, all without attracting public attention.

Today, many visitors mistake the Passetto for part of the old city walls or even an ancient aqueduct. Few realise that hidden within its walls lies a secret passageway that can only be explored on special guided visits.