12 Sep

How does a building meet the ground?

Located between the Tiber River and a upscale neighborhood to its north, Castel San Angelo is one of those unique places in the city where the use of the site becomes entwined within the daily routines of local residents, but only along its fringes. Along the defensive perimeter, two open spaces ring the castle roughly 15 feet below its main level, separated only by a shady promenade. One is a narrow grassy space used primarily by locals to run their dogs. Since no stairs lead from the main grounds down to the lower space, it is not readily accessible to the tourists viewing the castle. The second open space however, located immediately around the castle, is far more inviting to all the masses, due to the presence of a large ramp and stairs that descend down to the park from the promenade above.

Upon descending down into either space, the appeal becomes apparent. The retreat away from the noise, tourists, and traffic from the castle and streets above is immediately noticeable. The defensive measures of the castle now serve an inverse function, keeping travelers inside. The castle’s neighborhoods to the north are largely left unscathed by the hordes of invaders who stream back and forth across Ponte Castel San Angelo on their daily incursions.