Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, Papal residence and museum in Castel Gandolfo, Italy
Description
The Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo is a papal residence and museum housed within a sprawling 135-acre complex containing multiple structures. The grounds feature a 17th-century villa, an observatory, functional buildings, and formal gardens with cultivated and natural areas surrounding the property.
History
The Church acquired the property in 1596 as payment from the Savelli family and commissioned architect Carlo Maderno to design the main structures for Pope Urban VIII. The complex was later expanded and modified to serve the needs of successive popes across the centuries.
Culture
The palace shows how popes lived away from Rome, inviting visitors to understand their daily world through the rooms and gardens. The place reflects the Church's desire to maintain a space for quiet retreat alongside its presence in the city.
Practical
Visitors can explore the interior rooms, Barberini Gardens, and grounds through guided tours available from Tuesday through Sunday. Wear comfortable shoes since the property is expansive and involves considerable walking.
Did you know?
During World War II, the palace sheltered Jewish refugees under Vatican protection while the surrounding area faced bombing raids. This hidden aspect of its history reveals a lesser-known role in a tragic chapter of European history.
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Vatican Observatory
25 m
Palazzo Chigi di Ariccia
3.4 km
Villa of Domitian
1.1 km
Bovillae
2.6 km
Santa Maria della Rotonda
2 km
San Barnaba apostolo
2.7 km
Collegiata di San Tommaso
100 m
Saint Pancras Cathedral
1.9 km
Marino Mithraeum
2.5 km
Santa Maria dell'Acquasanta Sanctuary
2.6 km
Convento di Santa Maria ad Nives di Palazzolo
3.3 km
San Pietro
2.2 km
Castel Savello
2.9 km
Roman Amphitheatre of Albano Laziale
2 km
Bergantino nymphaeum
329 m
Chiesa di San Paolo
1.9 km
Santa Maria della Stella
2.8 km
Palazzo Savelli
2.1 km
Santa Lucia
2.6 km
Museo civico Umberto Mastroianni
2.6 km
Circo di Bovillae
2.6 km
Lagolandia
1.3 km
Porta Pretoria
2.1 km
Villaggio delle Macine
1.3 km
Doric nymphaeum
770 m
Sitio arqueológico de Alba Longa
21 m
Viadotto Albano-Ariccia
3.2 km
Monumento ai caduti di Marino
2.7 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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