Passetto di Borgo reopens in Rome with guided tours and night visits

The Passetto di Borgo, a historic elevated passage connecting the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo, has reopened to the public in Rome after extensive restoration. Originally built under Pope Nicholas III in 1277 to provide a secure escape route for popes, the Passetto was famously used by Clement VII during the 1527 Sack of Rome. Its current form dates to Alexander VI Borgia at the end of the 15th century. Restoration work between 2018 and 2024 cost nearly €2 million, focusing on external masonry, internal plaster, and flooring. Further structural consolidation, new lighting, and two elevators for accessibility have enabled a permanent schedule of guided tours, bookable from December 23, 2024. Tours start at the Torre del Mascherino on Piazza della Città Leonina and end at the Bastione San Marco in Castel Sant'Angelo, alternating between an open upper level with panoramic views and a covered lower corridor. An installation with artworks and objects, plus a multimedia experience by Studio Azzurro, awaits visitors. A virtual tour is available online. Starting January 2025, an elevator at Torre del Mascherino will allow motor-impaired access. Spring 2025 will see school programs, and summer 2025 will offer self-guided visits. An additional €2.5 million from public works funding will support further conservation over the next three years.