The historic village near Rome where the popes spend their summer vacations

Just 20 kilometers from Rome , bathed by the waters of Lake Albano, lies the small town of Castel Gandolfo , a historic place that reflects its long history in its streets and centuries-old buildings. The beautiful landscapes that surround it add even more beauty to the picture.

But this town in the Lazio region has another feature that makes it very special: the imposing palace used by popes as a summer residence is located here. Pope Francis decided to break with the tradition of retreating to the papal palace for a few summer weeks. However, it remains to be seen whether the new Pope, Leo XIV, will resume this vacation destination.

Churches, villas and Roman remains

Castel Gandolfo is part of the Castelli Romani Regional Park , a collection of villages, ancient towns, villas, medieval castles, and archaeological remains that were "a favorite place for the capital's noble families and the popes," according to Italian Tourism. Furthermore, these 9,500 hectares of protected area are home to numerous animal species such as peregrine falcons and wolves.

The villa of Castel Gandolfo is a late medieval village, which according to some researchers would have been located on the site of Alba Longa, a city in Ancient Rome. Here we can find numerous buildings and monuments of interest such as the church of Santo Tommaso di Villanuova, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini; a 16th-century Roman gate; the Papal Palace; Villa Clodio, built during the Republican period; and the Baths of Diana. Also worth visiting are the remains of ancient villas such as Villa Barberini, Villa Cybo and Albanum Domitiani, the country house of Emperor Domitian.

The Palace of Castel Gandolfo

The village of Castel Gandolfo has been a vacation spot for popes, cardinals, and prelates of the Roman Curia for centuries. Specifically, they stay in the former residence of the Savelli family, transformed into the Papal State Palace by Urban VII in 1623. Inside, there is an important astronomical observatory, known as the "Vatican Specola."

You can purchase your ticket to visit the Papal Palace from the Vatican Museums website. You can also add other sites to this visit, such as the Secret Garden and the Astronomical Domes . To get here from Rome, the best option is to take a 40-minute train from Rome Termini Station.