Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, view from

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant'Angelo is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. The Castle was once the tallest building in Rome. Admirers of both Benvenuto Cellini (who escaped from here) and Puccini's Tosca (who threw herself from the battlements) will find much of interest in the Museum and series of decorated rooms within.