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Papal dungeons reopen for tourists (Subscribe to RSS Feed)

Vatican, Jul. 12, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican is re-opening the papal dungeons in the Castel Sant'Angelo after a 10-year restoration project.

For a month, beginning on July 13, visitors will be able to arrange tours of the cramps cells in the basement of the historic castle near the Tiber River, where convicts were held by the Papal States.

Guides conducting the tours-- which will take place only at night, to intensify the gloomy atmosphere-- will be prepared to tell the stories of some of the most famous inmates in the papal prison, such as Benvenuti Cellini. The grim dungeons at Castel Sant'Angelo have inspired artists such as Puccini, Shelley, and Dumas.

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Posted by: - Jul. 13, 2007 4:11 AM ET USA
The timing here is delicious! How many clerics ... I mean "prisoners" can the dungeons hold? The name is equally delicious! Castel Sant'Angelo. St. Michael the Archangel cast the devil out of heaven. Perhaps his dungeon could hold a few modernist heresiarchs, starting with a certain Left Coast USA cardinal ????

Posted by: - Jul. 12, 2007 11:58 PM ET USA
wpatc64 - Today 6:19 PM ET USA

"Does this mean that certain prelates and theologians will have a new home?"

And I could think of several who should be there but prudence prevents me from giving names.

Posted by: - Jul. 12, 2007 8:58 PM ET USA
The headline is commonly known around the news media world as a "DUMBO LEADIN". You know, "KID WITH BIG EARS LEARNS TO FLY".

Posted by: - Jul. 12, 2007 6:20 PM ET USA
Whew! You had me worried. The headline was easily open to misinterpretation. My hope was that the Holy Father would restore discipline to the Church in some areas, but dungeons for misbehaving tourists! That would seem a bit much.

Posted by: - Jul. 12, 2007 6:19 PM ET USA
Does this mean that certain prelates and theologians will have a new home?