Just about an hour from Rome, step into Castel Gandolfo: a peaceful hilltop town overlooking the stunning Lake Albano. With its cool summer breeze, it’s noticeably fresher than Rome, which is exactly why Popes have traditionally spent their entire summers here.
At the heart of it all is the Apostolic Palace, the Pope’s historic summer residence. Quiet, elegant and for decades closed to the public. In a rare and recent decision, Pope Francis, known for never really taking vacations, opened its doors, offering a insight behind the Vatican’s usual walls.
Today, you can wander through the Secret Garden, explore the Papal Apartments and discover the Gallery of the Popes’ Portraits. A walk through centuries of history, hidden details and stories most visitors never get to see.
And the story doesn’t stop there. The current Pope has also returned to Castel Gandolfo, continuing the tradition while respecting his predecessor’s choice to open the Palace to visitors. Even his private apartment remains part of the visit, an unusually intimate look into papal life. And Pope Leo has chosen to stay nearby, in a newly renovated small residence set within the beautiful Barberini Gardens.
A place of silence, history and unexpected beauty… just beyond Rome.
