Close

The pope is in for a holy holiday tradition. After a surprising rise to the top position, Pope Leo XIV will be taking a summer holiday. He recently announced plans to stay at the Castel Gandolfo — a 135-acre complex in a hilltop town on the outskirts of Rome that offers breathtaking views of Lake Albano and has hosted popes for centuries. In a devo...

62

During sweltering summers, when the heat in Rome may become oppressive, a secret oasis exists just a drive outside of town where you can chill out and experience a taste of Italy’s countryside. Castel Gandolfo, high on a hill overlooking Lake Albano, has been and remains the papal summer retreat—a site of calm, loveliness, and clean air, providing...

100

Castel Gandolfo is a small but historically rich town located in the Alban Hills, about 25 kilometers (just over 15 miles) southeast of Rome, overlooking the waters of Lake Albano. Despite its size, this village is internationally known as the traditional summer residence of the Popes and for its stunning natural setting, which has made it a favore...

130

Lazio, my region. A region of many wonders; a compound of sumptuous landscapes, ancient medieval hamlets, superb regional delicacies and ravishing nature. Bordered by the Tirreno waves and traversed by the central portion of the Apennine mountains, the region we’re about to discover will allow you to ride (either by car or by train) through unforge...

366

A labyrinth adorns the garden of one of the most beautiful palaces in the Castelli Romani: this is the labyrinth of Villa Barberini, located in Castel Gandolfo, among the Alban Hills. Villa Barberini is among the most interesting pontifical villas in Castel Gandolfo, the papal residences that dot Lake Albano and are included in the extraterritorial...

309

You can start your visit from Via Ercolano: here once were the Horti Torlonia, today occupied by vegetable garden patches for residen­ts and by the Ibernesi Archeological Park, which contains some ruins of Domitian’s Villa. Continuing down Via Ercolano, you’ll reach Villa Torlonia, restored in 1817 by the architect Giu­seppe Valadier. The main faça...

802