All you need to know to visit Passetto di Borgo: practical info about tickets, best time to visit, first hand experience tips to help you plan your visit
One of Rome’s most fascinating sites is Passetto di Borgo, a secret passage connecting the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo.
The passetto consists in a long corridor running inside and above the protective walls of Vatican City and was built as an escape route to allow the Pope to quickly run from the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City to the fortress of Castel Sant’Angelo, better equipped to protect them in case of attack.
The passage is a long walkaway and has recently reopened to the public.
It is a fascinating place to visit and a great opportunity to learn about Vatican City and the development of this area of Rome from a unique point of view.
We visited Passetto di Borgo earlier this summer, on a warm and beautiful evening, after dark and we absolutely loved it.
If you can, I highly recommend you join one of the evening guided tour of the passage: bring a camera as the photo opportunities abound!
These are some photos from our night there, and all you need to know to plan your visit.
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What is Passetto di Borgo
Passetto di Borgo is a long corridor running from the Apolostolic Palace in Vatican City to nearby St Angelo Castle’s fortress.
The exact date of the Passetto’s construction is debated, with scholars’ opinions ranging from a construction date of 1277 to dates as late as the XV century but its role was clear.
The corridor was to be a fast and safe escape route for the Pope, so that in case of attack they could quickly go from the unsecured Apostolic Palace to the fully fortified and almost siege-proof fortress that is St Angelo Castle.
The corridor went through several changes over time and now runs above and inside the Vatican City walls.
As a visitor to the city, you can still walk alongside the walls and be oblivious to it existence, even after knowing it is there (you can see small openings for light and air, but you wouldn’t think much of them, without context).
It is very easy to see how easy it was and is for the the people inside to move unseen between the Vatican and the castle.
The Passetto was more than just a precaution and truly came into its own in several circumstances.
For instance In 1494, Pope Alexander VI used the 800-meter passage to flee French troops under Charles VIII.
Again, in 1527, during the Sack of Rome, Clement VII escaped through the narrow corridor with the coverage of its troops.
Even in peace time the passetto had its use.
It is said that the passetto was used to bring important prisoners to meet their fate away from the limelight and also as a ‘discreet’ place for romantic meetings and secret encounters!
Where is Passetto di Borgo
Passetto di Borgo stretches for about 1km from Vatican City to Castel Sant’Angelo, on the far side of the River Tiber.
The entrance is located on Piazza della Città Leonina (at the corner with Via del Mascherino). You can easily walk here from Vatican City and the river Tiber.
The closest metro station is Ottaviano: several buses serve the area – to find the most convenient from your location, I use google maps which I feel like recommending as an easy way to find your way by pubic transport in Rome in general.
Who should visit Passetto di Borgo
I recommend a visit to anyone with an interest in the history of Rome and the Vatican and anyone who wants to get stunning and unusual views of Rome while learning about the city.
Good to know: the guided tour is much more than a way to learn about the passage. It is also a great way to learn about this part of the city, how it developed and how the presence of the Pope and their needs shaped this whole side of the river. It is a great insight to an area of town often overlooked by visitors yet beautiful and significant.
The passetto and the tour are kid-friendly and while I wouldn’t say this is an attraction for kids, curious children can enjoy the secret passage element of it. They will also love Castel Sant’Angelo, which has cool things for kids such as cannon balls and high bastions. You can read here >> why I love visiting Castel Sant’Angelo with kids.
I do not recommend the visit to people with mobility issues (see below).
How to visit Passetto di Borgo
Passetto di Borgo is a ticketed attraction.
The official concession is Coopculture and you can buy the ticket directly from them here: online booking is mandatory as there is no ticket office on site, at the time of writing.
Should they be sold out, you can also get them via third parties such as GetYourGuide – excellent and well priced
All bookings are timed. On the day of your tour, all you need to do is arrive at the starting point of the tour a few minutes before the time on your ticket: there will be a quick ticket check and your tour will start – no standing in line and no crowds.
Please always make sure you check ticketing rules about having ID on you / bag restrictions etc as set out by your ticket provider of choice.
At present, you have ticket options that include / do not include time in Castel Sant’Angelo. We took the one that included it and we did it at night, both elements reflected into our personal account of the experience.
The best time to visit Passetto di Borgo
We visited passetto di Borgo on a summer night and highly recommend to visit this way, if you can.
We felt that the night added to the atmosphere of the secret escape route, allowed to enjoy unparalleled views of St Peter’s Dome and the Castle lit up and it also allowed to see Castel Sant’Angelo after hours, an experience not otherwise easy to have.
Of course, you can also visit during the day – the tickets are available for several time slots to suits most visitors.
Passetto di Borgo visit – photos and practical considerations
Passettodi Borgo is an elevated corridor and a long walk from the Vatican to the castle: While you don’t need any special level of fitness, good mobility and the ability to keep pace with the group is paramount.
At the start of the corridor there are some steps to get to the elevated part of the passageway: it’s a short flight of stairs up so while not strenuous, it it more than just one or two.
You then need to walk the 800 mt ( a little less than a kilometre) of it and then you’ll need to be able to walk the steps and passageways of Castle Sant’Angelo.
While the walk is not difficult and tour not too fast paced, the ability to negotiate this walk and stairs independently is paramount for this visit.
Good to know: the corridor is narrow but not so narrow to pose issues of comfort even to people who suffer from mild claustrophobia, like me. If you have a severe issue with closed spaces, then it may be different but it is not a situation of having to squeeze into small passageways.
Once outside you are the top of the walls: the protection is high enough to make it feel safe even to people with a bit of a fear of height. However, if your fear is severe, you may want to give this one a miss.
The passetto does not include holy sites and therefore does’t have a dress code.
Due of the walking and the steps however good walking shoes or at least shoes with rubber sole are ideal.
Part of the passage is outdoors so I recommend you come prepared for the weather, may it be the strong summer sun or winter temperatures.
Please note thar there is is no wardrobe nor cloakroom: if you need to leave anything behind, I recommend you look for private luggage deposits in the area (Vatican City or Castel Sant’Angelo are your landmarks of reference). I recommend you check Radical Storage, which has many locations around the city.
Kids are welcome: if you bring a stroller, be sure you have a model you can fold and carry.
Where to eat near Passetto di Borgo
Passetto di Borgo is close to the Vatican so you can pick any of my favourite restaurants near Vatican City for a lovely meal. In our case, since we wanted something a little special, we went to Osteria Lume, which is perfect especially for date night and only a short walk to the passetto.
If you are looking for romantic things to do in Rome, dinner + passetto visit on a summer night is a wonderful option!
What to see near Passetto di Borgo
If you want to spend an afternoon or a day in this area, you’ll be happy to hear there are many things you can easily do here. The biggest attractions in the area are of course Vatican City itself, meaning St Peter’s Basilica, Square and of course the Vatican Museums.
Also, Castel Sant’Angelo is wonderful, and a place I recommend you spend some time visiting in your own time, if you can. On top of this, the area has a fun Leonardo da Vinci Museum, nice shopping opportunities, a great market, a fantastic cooking class and it is close to the city center proper, Piazza Navona only being a short walk away across the river.
You can find here >>> my guide to the best hidden gems and things to see near Vatican City.
Where to stay near Passetto di Borgo
if you wish to stay in this area, I recommend you check out my guide to the best hotels near the Vatican, that offers several options at different budget points.
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to Passetto di Borgo and it helped you plan your visit!