St. Angel's Bridge

At one time, the bridge was named after St. Peter (as pilgrims, going to the temple of this saint, traditionally chose this bridge as their way). The Bridge of Angels received its modern name in 600, when Pope Gregory the Great had a vision of an angel putting a sword in the sheath (this vision symbolized the end of the plague epidemic that engulfed Rome).

The 106 m long and 20 m wide bridge is the oldest bridge in Rome.

In 1535, statues of the Apostles Peter and Paul were installed on the bridge, and in 1669, by decree of Pope Clement IX, 10 more statues of angels were added, made by the disciples of the sculptor Bernini according to his sketches. According to the master’s plan, each angel holds a symbol of one of the human passions. Unfortunately, these sculptures have not survived to this day in their entirety - the two surviving original statues are now kept in the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte.

The Castle and the Bridge of St. Angel together form one of the most picturesque views of Rome, without which the impression of visiting this city, of course, will remain incomplete.