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 The small town of Castel Gandolfo is famous for being the pope’s summer residence, and is only 20 kms south east of Rome off the Appian Way.
The summer palace of the actual pope Benedict XVI was originally a castle, built in the 12^th century by the Gandolfi family. In 1624 pope Urban VIII turned  it  into the official summer residence of the popes,  and had the palace extended and had the wonderful gardens created. In spite of all these efforts Urban VIII never lived there but dwelt in in the nearby Villa Barberini.  In the latter part of the 17^th century Bernini was designated the architect for further extensions, of which the famous square and its fountain in central Castel Gandolfo.  The buildings and garden, damaged during the French invasion  in the 17^th century were refurbished and eventually Villa Barberini became part of the popes’ residence. More recently, since 1936 an observatory is part of the palace, and works in partnership with the Tucson observatory in Arizona.

 

Culturally speaking Castel Gandolfo has had a very lively  exchange with the small French town of Chateauneuf du Pape over the last decade.

At its origins lays the fact that between the 14^th and 15^th century the headquarters of  the  Vatican had been shifted to Avignon in France, and Chateauneuf du Pape was the summer residence of the popes during that period. Nowadays this little French town is mostly  famous for one the best French wines that is produced. After your day trip we recommend you a comfortable hotel in the centre of Rome which you can book now