Passetto di Borgo
The Passetto di Borgo is an approx. 800 meter long, medieval escape route that leads from the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo . The Passetto was built in 1277 by Pope Nicholas III . On the outside, an ordinary wall is hidden, inside is the corridor, which among others helped Popes Clement VII (at the Sacco di Roma - the sack of Rome ) and Pius VII (before Napoleon ) to escape from the Vatican to the difficult-to-conquer Castel Sant'Angelo .
At the Sacco di Roma , a large part of the Swiss Guard (147 out of 189 men) defended St. Peter's Square to protect the Pope and the Holy See. All 147 men were killed in defense. This enabled Pope Clement VII to flee from St. Peter's Basilica through the Passetto di Borgo with the remaining 42 Swiss to Castel Sant'Angelo , where they were besieged by the attackers.
literature
- Corrado Augias : The Secrets of the Vatican . Munich: CH Beck 2012. ISBN 978-3-406-63092-7 , limited preview in the Google book search.
Web links
Coordinates: 41 ° 54 ′ 11.9 " N , 12 ° 27 ′ 42.2" E