Castel Gandolfo

Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

Popes have spent their summers here since 1626, in the Apostolic Palace that now also opens to visitors as a museum. The town stands on a hilltop above Lake Albano, a volcanic crater with small beaches of dark volcanic sand and a shore you can walk all the way round. On Piazza della Libertà, Bernini designed the collegiate church of San Tommaso da Villanova.

Highlights

The Apostolic Palace, papal summer residence, with its Secret Garden open to visitors
Bernini's collegiate church of San Tommaso da Villanova (IT)
A walk round Lake Albano, with woodland stretches and swimming from volcanic-sand beaches
The Roman outlet tunnel of the lake and the remains of Domitian's villa
The feast of San Sebastiano on the first weekend of September

Summary based on Wikipedia and Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), written with AI assistance.

Population: 8,564

Things to see

Travel guide (Wikivoyage)

Castel Gandolfo is a city in the province of Rome. It is in the area southeast of Rome known as the Castelli Romani and is mainly known as the summer residence of the Pope. It overlooks the 10-km circumference of Lake Albano, an extinct volcanic crater, which is a popular destination for Romans on summer weekends and has many restaurants. Castel Gandolfo is part of the “Dan Brown” tour, having featured in the book The Da Vinci Code.

Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA

Events through the year

Feast of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice Religious · Last Sunday of MayHeld by the San Paolo district of the town
Peach festival Food and wine · Last Sunday of JulyPeaches with cultural, entertainment and sports events
Feast of Saint Sebastian Religious · First weekend of SeptemberPatronal feast and cholera vow, ending with fireworks over the lake