The Castel Sant Angelo stands between the River Tiber and the Vatican and dates back as far as AD 123 when it was originally thought to be built as a mausoleum.

It then became a fortress and castle, but today, as the National Museum of Castel Sant Angelo, tourists from all over the world visit it. Take the stairs to the terrace where you’ll get splendid views of the river and of the cityscape which lies in front of you. You can also see the corridor connecting Castel Sant'Angelo with the Vatican from here.

The Castel Sant Angelo became famous for many reasons. It was here that the final act of Puccini’s opera took place. More recently The Castel Sant Angelo appeared in Dan Browns novel Angels and Demons.

The museum provides an excellent collection of suits of armour and many of the rooms inside are decorated with frescoes. There’s a load of things here to keep the kids entertained too including dungeons, draw bridges, trap doors and canons.

If you wish to take a break, the museum has a café for you which serves lots of refreshments.