Landmarks - The Passetto

THE PASSETTO ROMANS LOVINGLY CALL THE ANCIENT PASSAGEWAY THAT LINKS THE VATICAN TO THE MEDIEVAL FORTRESS OF CASTEL SANT ANGELO, THE PASSETTO, OR, THE SMALL CORRIDOR. IF THE PASSETTO COULD SPEAK, IT WOULD TELL TALES OF MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE, POWER AND TREACHERY. CONSTRUCTED IN 1277, THIS VATICAN CORRIDOR WAS CONCEIVED IN MEDIEVAL TIMES, TO PROVIDE A FORTIFIED RAISED ESCAPE ROUTE FOR POPES, AND AS A STRATEGIC SURVEILLANCE POINT TO MONITOR ACTIVITIES AROUND THE VATICAN