This hilltop town near Rome has been the Pope's summer residence since the 17th century, with Lake Albano's volcanic waters and the Barberini Gardens at its center.
Perched on a hilltop 25 kilometers southeast of Rome, Castel Gandolfo overlooks the deep blue waters of Lake Albano. In this former papal retreat, you can walk through the private bedroom where popes once slept, discover ancient Roman tunnels carved through volcanic rock, and swim in a crater lake where Olympic athletes train. The town's narrow streets lead to cafes and gelaterias, while stone pathways wind through gardens filled with Renaissance fountains and classical statues.
Visiting the Apostolic Palace
The 17th-century Apostolic Palace opens its museum halls and state rooms to visitors. You'll walk through the papal apartments, see the portrait gallery, and step into the private papal bedroom where pontiffs spent their summers. The palace complex spans 135 acres with multiple buildings connected by Renaissance-style gardens. Audio-guided tours cost €24 and require advance booking.
Exploring the Barberini Gardens
Walk through 30 hectares of manicured gardens where Emperor Domitian built his villa in the 1st century AD. Stone paths lead you past marble fountains and classical statues, while terraced viewpoints look out across Lake Albano. Morning tours run daily except Sundays, taking you through cypress groves, rose gardens, and active archaeological dig sites where researchers uncover Roman artifacts.
Ancient Roman Sites
The Emissario del Lago Albano, an underground tunnel from 398 BC, stretches 1,800 meters through volcanic rock. Engineers built this channel to control the lake's water levels. On the lake's western shore, walk through the Bergantino Nymphaeum (Diana's Baths), where carved walls and water channels reveal Roman engineering methods from two millennia ago.
Getting There From Rome
Trains run regularly from Rome's Termini station to Castel Gandolfo, taking 40 minutes. From the station, walk 15 minutes uphill to reach Piazza della Libertà. For a faster route, take Metro Line A to Anagnina, then catch a 30-minute Cotral bus to the town center.
Lake Albano Activities
Athletes train for Olympic canoeing and kayaking on Lake Albano, using facilities built for the 1960 Olympics. From June to September, you can swim at the public beach near Via dei Pescatori or rent kayaks from the Olympic center. A walking path circles the entire crater lake, passing 17th-century summer villas and wooded areas. The complete circuit takes about three hours.
