Angels and Demons Top Sites in Rome and the Vatican

Saint Peter's Square and Basilica

Vatican City is a tiny sovereign independent state and home to the Pope. Saint Peter's Basilica, one of the world's largest churches, and the huge Saint Peter's Square dominate the Vatican and figure prominently in the movie. Entrance to Saint Peter's Basilica is free but to visit the Vatican excavations, the necropolis beneath Saint Peter's Basilica where part of the movie takes place, you'll have to reserve ahead for a guided visit.

Castel Sant' Angelo and Passetto

Castel Sant' Angelo, built as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian in the second century, was used as a fortress until it became a papal residence in the 14th century. A secret passageway, the Passetto, connects it to the Vatican. In the movie, this is a secret ancient Illuminati spot used toward the end of the story. Today Castel Sant' Angelo hosts summer concerts. The Passetto, prison, and private rooms of Clement VII can also be visited.

Piazza Navona and the Fountain of Four Rivers

Piazza Navona is a lively square ringed with high-end cafes and Baroque palaces. The stars of the oval-shaped piazza are three lavish Baroque fountains. The central fountain, Fountain of the Rivers or Fontana Dei Fiumi, represents Water on the Path of the Illumination in the story. Created by Bernini in the 1650's, the fountain portrays four rivers - the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile, and the Rio de la Plata.

Santa Maria del Popolo and Piazza del Popolo

Santa Maria del Popolo, in Piazza del Popolo, was one of the first Renaissance churches in Rome. In the Chigi Chapel, created by Raphael, are ceiling mosaics and pyramid-like tombs as well as statues by Bernini. The Chigi Chapel represents Earth on the Path of Illumination in the movie and book.

Santa Maria della Vittoria

Santa Maria della Vittoria is a Baroque church on Via XX Settembre. The church holds the famous Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Bernini that represents Fire on the Path of Illumination.

The Pantheon

Rome's Pantheon, the ancient temple of all the gods, was built between AD 118-125 by Emperor Hadrian. Its dome was the largest dome ever until Brunelleschi's dome at the Florence Cathedral was built in 1420-36. In the 7th century, it was made into a church by early Christians but it's still the best-preserved building of ancient Rome. Today is surrounded by a pleasant and lively piazza, a nice place to sit in the evening and enjoy a drink. Admission to the Pantheon is free.

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel, built from 1473-1481, is both the Pope's private chapel and the venue for the election of the new pope by the cardinals. Michelangelo painted the famous ceiling frescoes, with the central scenes depicting creation and the story of Noah. He also decorated the altar wall with the Last Judgment and there are works by several other famous artists. The chapel is part of the Vatican Museums.

Be sure to buy tickets or book a tour in advance to avoid long lines. Select Italy, a US company, sells Vatican Museums tickets and small group (6 people) Vatican and Sistine Chapel tours online. To enjoy the Sistine Chapel without big crowds, consider a Before or After Hours Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums Tour.

Caserta Royal Palace

Caserta Royal Palace was the set for filming many of the Angels and Demons scenes that take place in Vatican City since filming in Vatican City was forbidden. Caserta Royal Palace or Reggia di Caserta, northeast of Naples, is an extravagant 18th century Bourbon palace that's often used as a movie set. You might recognize the palace from other movies including Star Wars Episode I and II and Mission Impossible III where it substituted for Vatican City.

Sites Featured in Dan Brown's Inferno

Inferno, Dan Brown's novel based on the Divine Comedy, takes place in the Italian cities of Florence and Venice as well as in Istanbul, Turkey. Find out about the monuments and sites featured in the book for each of these cities.