The Vatican and the Italian Ministry of Culture have reached an agreement to restore the Passetto di Borgo (Small Passage of the Borgo) covered walkway that runs from the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo.
The walkway features in Dan Brown’s novel ‘Angels & Demons’ published in 2000 and one of the characters uses it during the abduction of four cardinals.
Pope Nicholas III commissioned the covered corridor in 1277. It stretches almost half a mile, from the top of the walls of the Vatican to join the watchtower at the Castel Sant’ Angelo papal fortress.
In times of invasion, popes used the Passetto di Borgo as a safe passage between the Vatican and the castle. Pope Clement VII used the corridor when he dashed to safety during the Sack of Rome in 1527 to take refuge in the castle.
By the turn of the 20th century, the Passetto di Borgo had fallen into disrepair and was closed to the public. In 2000, it was cleaned and part of it was opened to the public.
Restoration work includes preparing adequate infrastructures to allow access for people with disabilities. When the work is complete, all of the historic corridor leading to the Castel Sant’Angelo National Museum will be open to the public.
