The summer palace of the popes on the rim of a volcanic lake
On the rim of an ancient volcanic crater filled by Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo has been the summer residence of the popes since the seventeenth century. The Apostolic Palace, overlooking the lake, and the vast gardens of the Villa Barberini were for centuries an extraterritorial area of the Holy See.
In 2016 Pope Francis opened the palace and the gardens to the public as a museum: you can visit the papal apartments and the gardens, which incorporate the ruins of the villa of the emperor Domitian. The small town, one of the most beautiful in Italy, has a square with a fountain and a church by Bernini. Below, the deep blue Lake Albano is perfect for walks and swims, and in 1960 hosted the Olympic rowing races.
Tip: a special train from the Vatican station sometimes links St Peter's to the gardens of Castel Gandolfo; try the porchetta and wine of the nearby Castelli.
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