The national museum of Castel S. Angelo is open on summer evenings from 20.30-01.00 (except Monday) until 7 September, with free guided tours in Italian, English, French and Spanish.

The English-language tours have been doubled this year and take place each night at 21.45 and 22.45. French and Spanish tours are available on request for groups of minimum of 10 people, while tours in Italian are held every half hour from 20.30 to 23.30.

All tours include areas usually closed to the public such as the Passetto di Borgo, an 800m-long escape passage linking the former papal fortress to the Vatican; prisons used from Renaissance times up to the 19th century; while those curious to know what a 16th-century pope’s bathroom looked like can check out the Stufetta di Clement VII.

In addition to the guided tours there are concerts of classical music and jazz at 21.30 every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 4 July. Among the acts to look forward to this year are Danilo Rea, Fabrizio Bosso, Gabriele Mirabassi, Alessandro Carbonare and the Quartetto Bernini. There is also a bar and restaurant with panoramic views of the capital. 

Tickets cost €10, children under 10 go free, and the ticket office is open until midnight. Booking tours is advised, tel. 0688522480 (Mon-Fri 10.00-18.00, Sat-Sun 15.00-18.00) or see website.