The Vatican district, commonly known as Rione Borgo, is one of the most central neighborhoods in Rome. We can say that it partially ‘borders’ the Vatican State and because of this it is one of the most popular destinations for tourists to stay overnight.
It is the ancient district around Via della Conciliazione, from Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican, and it is partly surrounded by the Leonine walls. It is beautiful to get lost in the alleys that branch off from Via di Borgo Pio and immerse oneself in its atmosphere that gives you a taste of the past. Wandering around the neighborhood, you will certainly come across the infamous roman fountains, a few old artisan shops, many religious shops and some beautiful churches.
It is definitely a charming area of Rome that deserves to be explored during your Vatican Tours!
The district is also a famous ‘shopping street’. Along Via Cola di Rienzo we can find all kinds of fashion brands, from Lui Jo to Nike and from Coin to The North Face.
As we say in Italy, “hai l’imbarazzo della scelta!” (“you’re spoilt for choice!”).
What to visit in the Borgo District
Certainly, the most interesting thing to see is Castel Sant’Angelo.
Originally built as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian and as a mausoleum for the Antonine family, it was transformed into a fortress, included in the Aurelian walls for the defense of the city. Later on, it was used as a political prison and took the name “Forte Sant’Angelo”.
After the unification of Italy, it became a military barracks, and in 1925 it became the National Museum. The most interesting part of our journey inside the castle is the ‘Passetto di Borgo‘, an elevated walkway about 800 m long connecting the Vatican to Castel Sant’Angelo. Today ‘Passetto di Borgo’ can be visited only with a guided tour.
The bridge in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, the Ponte Sant’Angelo, is also certainly worth a visit. At the beginning of the bridge, on the opposite side of the castle, there are statues of St Peter and St Paul. The first one has the keys to Heaven in his hands and the latter is holding a sword.
There are also some statues of angels on the bridge holding the instruments of Christ’s Passion.
Five pairs of angels and a statue of the Archangel Michael tower above Castel Sant’Angelo. According to some interpretations of the Scriptures, the Archangel Michael will play the trumpet announcing the second coming of Christ to Earth.
What to eat in the Borgo District
At this point after a long day of sightseeing and shopping, I guess you are hungry, right?
Here are some tips for eating where the locals eat and not feeling like a tourist.
- Ted’s lobster burger: a different, very young place, where you can taste their iconic lobster roll. the cocktails are also noteworthy, not at all trivial, and go very well with the food.
- If you are looking for a more refined experience, we recommend Ristorante Arlù. It is characterized by great care in the presentation and choice of ingredients. Truly exquisite dishes and a fine wine list.
- If you want to have an after-dinner cocktail, we recommend ‘Il Sorpasso‘, the historic club in Rome, where you cannot book but have to queue to get your seat.
What more can we say… come to Rome and discover the Borgo district!
