The historic escape route of the popes from the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo has been reopened after a six-month restoration. Pope Clement VII used, among other things, the secret passage called “Passetto” to escape when the mercenaries of Emperor Charles V plundered the Eternal City in 1527.
The corridor was partially reopened in three phases, first in 1999, then in 2005 and finally in 2013. Due to the latest restoration, the path is now almost fully accessible
Before its reopening in 1999, the Passetto had long been home to vagrants and a route for burglars, and during World War II it served as a hideout for anti-fascist fugitives.
The “Passetto” was created in 1277 by Pope Nicholas III. built on the walls originally built by Pope Leo IV in 847-851 to protect the Vatican from the Saracens. They had advanced with their warships to the mouth of the Tiber to plunder the city.
After Nicholas, other popes added towers and fortifications and decorated the exterior of the corridor – or the Passetto del Borgo, as it is popularly known – with their emblems.
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
