Cheap hotels near Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy

First commissioned as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian (ruled 117-138 A.D.), the Castel Sant’ Angelo is hard to miss: It’s the imposing castle sitting on the left bank of the Tiber, just south of Vatican City.

Converted into a castle by Pope Nicolas III, and then later used as a fortress during the Sack of Rome (1527), the building is today connected to the Vatican via underground tunnels. The Castel has also been used as a prison, a venue for public executions and is featured in the third act of Puccini’s famous opera, “Tosca.”

The Castel's museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Students, and visitors under 18-years and over 65 can enter for free. See the museum’s Web site for more information.

Hotels near Castel Sant’Angelo: We recommend many budget hotels in the Vatican & Prati neighborhood just north of the Castel San’Angelo. It's mostly residential, less touristed, and sometimes cheaper than areas across the river.