Air, Landier, and Sea

Castel Sant’ Angelo was originally constructed by the Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum. It rivaled the mausoleum of Augustus Caesar, which was constructed on the other side of the Tiber River.

This was an exciting stop on our trip, as Bryce hadn’t been here on his previous trip.

There are many interesting things that we learned about the Castel. We didn’t have a tour guide, but we did utilize the video we found yesterday of the pushy tour guide we “bumped into” at Basilica San Clemente yesterday.

Here’s what we learned about Castel Sant’ Angelo:

• This building was commissioned by Hadrian in the first century AD. Unlike all of the other ancient buildings, it never fell into disrepair because it was converted from a tomb to a fortress, a prison to a Renaissance dwelling to a national museum.
• In 590, Pope Gregory the Great was visited by the archangel Michael at the Castel Sant’ Angelo. The angel’s visit signified the end of the plague. This is why Michael is the statute at the top of the Castel. Also, this is why it’s called “Castle of the Angel”.

• There is a passageway from the Vatican to the Castel. It’s served as an escape route to the fortress for popes who were under siege.

• The treasure of the Vatican was previously kept at the Castel, because it was believed to be a safer location than the Vatican.

• There are incredible views of Rome from the Castel. This also helped make it a great hideaway for the pope, as he was able to see oversee his kingdom.

• There’s a grand chapel where Pope Leo X entertained guests. It was designed intentionally to be opulent as Leo wanted to upstage Martin Luther and demonstrate that the Catholic Church had all the power and prestige.

The next great highlight of the day (and truly a highlight of the trip) was getting pizza for dinner.

And not just regular pizza, but full-blown Italian, gluten free pizza! And not only gluten free pizza, but gluten free Crocce (potato and cheese breaded and fried) and gluten free Tiramisu!

I was in absolute Heaven!

It was hands down the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life and I’m so grateful to the gluten free restaurant, Mama Eat! Mama Eat is located in one of Rome’s swankier suburbs, Trastevere.

As an added bonus, they also had items gluten-full, so Bryce got to enjoy authentic Italian pizza as well.

After dinner we walked around Trastevere, sat on the steps at Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Lastly, we walked around in the Jewish Quarter, where we came across some cats of Rome.

Fun fact about the stray cats in Rome: they’re very, very well taken care of by a group of cat ladies in the city.

In fact, there’s a sign which reads “Please don’t feed our cats. We feed them every day. Feeding them only encourages them to go out onto the street and risk getting hit by a car.”

Just a note on riding in a car in Italy- it’s an experience. I equate it to playing sharks and minnows. If you’re in a car, you’re a shark, and everyone outside of the car is a minnow. Of course in The States, people hurry across streets to avoid getting hit by a car, but as a pedestrian, you have the right of way. Not so in Italy.

Italian drivers rarely use brakes. In The States, if you’re tailgating someone and they slow down, you get the hint and move over a lane or use your brakes to slow down.

In Italy, you speed up, essentially shaming them for having the audacity to use their brakes. Since those on the outside of a roundabout have the right of way, it’s full steam ahead to enter. Narrow alley, full of parked cars on one side and pedestrians on the other? No need to slow down- everyone will literally run or jump out of your way.

Italians don’t brake for anything- not speed limits, not slow traffic, not pedestrians, and not whales, or yard sales.

So it’s a relief to know the cats have a safe space to relax and eat.

Rest assured, the cats of Rome are in very good hands and seem to live wonderful lives!