The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian, also called Hadrian's mole, was erected on the right bank (or northern edge) of the Tiber, between 134 and 139 CE. Originally the mausoleum was a decorated cylinder, with a garden to… See more

Much of the tomb contents and decorations have been lost since the building's conversion to a military fortress in 401 and its subsequent inclusion in the Aurelian Walls by Flavius Honorius Augustus. The urns and a… See more

The popes converted the structure into a castle, beginning in the 14th century; Pope Nicholas III connected the castle to St Peter's Basilica by a covered fortified corridor called the Passetto di Borgo. The fortress wa… See more

When visiting the castel in 1776 Cornelis de Bruijn mentioned the fireworks that were apparently on display once a year. He wrote:
"Another fireworks display, remarkable to behold, is t… See more