Castel Gandolfo (, , ; ), colloquially known as Castello in the Castelli Romani dialects, is a small town located southeast of Rome, in the Italian region of Lazio. Situated on a hilltop in the Alban Hills with panoramic views of Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo is home to approximately 8,900 residents and is renowned as one of Italy's most scenic towns.I borghi più belli d'Italia: Castel Gandolfo It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
Within the town's boundaries lies the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, which has served as the summer residence and vacation retreat for most popes since 1626. Although the palace is located within the boundaries of Castel Gandolfo, it holds an extraterritorial status as one of the properties of the Holy See and is not under Italian jurisdiction. It has been transformed into a museum and is now open to the public. Notwithstanding the main Apostolic Palace's current status as a museum, the Castel Gandolfo complex resumed its traditional status as the pope's summer residence and vacation retreat in July 2025.
The resort community encompasses almost the entire coastline of Lake Albano, which is surrounded by numerous summer residences, villas, and cottages that were constructed during the 17th century. It is also home to the Stadio Olimpico, which hosted the rowing events of the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics.
Castel Gandolfo has several places of archaeological interest, including the Emissario del Lago Albano and the remains of the Villa of Domitian. The area is included within the boundaries of the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani (Regional Park of Castelli Romani). There are also many points of artistic interest, such as the Collegiate Church of St. Thomas of Villanova, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Geography Territory The boundaries of the town extend obliquely in a north-northeast turn around the hilly area of the Alban Hills and the plains of Agro Romanus. It is included and protected by the Regional Park of Castelli Romani, formed in 1984. Most of the soil is of volcanic origin, with prevalence of materials such as tuff and pozzolana.Carta Geologica d'Italia, foglio 150 (Roma), edizione 1967 Its seismic classification is rated a Zone 2 (medium-high seismicity)Anche secondo le categorie sismiche stabilite dal D.M. LL.PP. 1984 e la successiva ordinanza P.C.M. n° 3274 20 marzo 2003 Castel Gandolfo era in zona sismica 2. Sono nella stessa zona sismica tutti i Colli Albani.
Hydrography
The main water body is Lake Albano, often called Lake Castel Gandolfo. The Metropolitan City of Rome currently manages the lake. Up to 1802, it was the property of the Abbey of Saint Nilus Grottaferrata, the Apostolic Camera (Roman Catholic Church's Financial Administration) and then owned by Prince Stanislaus Poniatowski in 1870.Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica – Castel-Gandolfo, vol. X p. 155–156, Venezia 1841.
Topography The maximum elevation registered in the territory is above sea level, at the Collegio di Propaganda Fide adjoining Villa Barberini. On the crown of the hills around the Lake Albano, the elevation is only above sea level, at the summit of Monte Cucco, bordering Marino.Nibby, Antonio (1829). Analisi storico-topografico-antiquaria della carta de' dintorni di Roma – Castel Gandolfo, vol. I.
Towards the Tyrrhenian Sea, the land slopes gently, so from from the Casale Santa Cristina, below Castel Savello bordering Albano, goes to above sea level at Colle Lilli, to above sea level at Pozzo di Valle, to Quarto Santa bordering Marino, to above sea level of the Laghetto di Turno. The lowest elevation of the territory is above sea level at the village of Pavona.Nibby, Antonio (1829). Analisi storico-topografico-antiquaria della carta de' dintorni di Roma – Castel Gandolfo, vol. II.
Climate In terms of climate, the area falls within the domain of the temperate Mediterranean climate with mild winters, autumn temperatures higher than those of spring and ventilated summers. In the area of Colli Albani, and at Castel Gandolfo, the phenomenon known as stau, which is the reduction of water vapor in the clouds as the ground rises can be observed. Summers are hot and dry, while winter is mild and rainy without, in general, extreme low temperatures and snow. In summer, temperatures can reach with peaks of in rare cases.S. Ciccacci, L. D'Alessandro, L. Davoli, G.B. La Monica, E. Lupia Palmieri, Caratteristiche Climatiche, Geomorfologiche, Sedimentologiche e Idrogeologiche in Vincenzo Carunchio (ed.), Valutazione della Situazione Ambientale del Lago di Nemi, Roma: Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" e Provincia di Roma, 1987, pp. 17–45. Climate classification: Zone D, 1966 GR / G.
Etymology The name "Castel Gandolfo" is derived from the Latin Castrum Gandulphi,Spesso viene confusa con il Castrum Gandulphi la Turris Gandulphi o Gandulfa, che secondo lo storico di Ariccia Emanuele Lucidi (Memorie storiche dell'antichissimo municipio ora terra dell'Ariccia, e delle sue colonie di Genzano e Nemi, parte I, cap. IV pp. 41–42) sarebbe il toponimo con cui anticamente era designata l'attuale località di Tor Paluzzi, situata presso la frazione di Cecchina in comune di Ariccia. the name of the castle on this site was presumably owned by the family of Gandolfi, originally from Genoa. Another hypothesis, supported by Pope Pius II in his commentary (1462), is that the name results from Gandulphi Sabinorum, from a certain Gandolfo Savelli.Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica – Castel-Gandolfo, vol. X p. 156, Venezia 1841.
History
Archaeological finds from the 16th century BC come from the area of what is now Castel Gandolfo.
The site of the modern town is a candidate for the site of legendary ancient Alba Longa, capital of the Latin League. It was later developed by the Emperor Domitian into his vast palace.
Its name is derived from a fortification of the ducal Gandolfi family (of Genoese origin, named after St. Gondolfus) in the 12th century, which passed to the Savelli family from whom the Apostolic Camera purchased it in 1596 for 150,000 scudi. Pope Clement VIII (1592–1605) was the first pope to come to Castel Gandolfo, but the rebuilding of the old castle was the project of Urban VIII, who first made it an official papal residence in 1626.
During the Napoleonic Wars, some 900 anti-French citizens of neighboring Velletri held out in Castel Gandolfo, resisting the siege by Joachim Murat.
During World War II, Pope Pius XII opened up the grounds of Castel Gandolfo to refugees escaping the fighting taking place around Rome. On 22 January 1944, the first of what became 12,000 people began arriving on the property, often bringing with them their cows, horses, mules and sheep. Included were many Roman Jews, and other non-Catholics. During the time they lived there, 36 children were born, almost all of whom were named after the Pope who gave them safe harbor. The pope's private apartment was turned into a nursery.
Pope Benedict (2005–2013) loved it so much he briefly retired there after leaving the papacy. Pope Francis (2013–2025), however, rarely traveled there, with a gap of nearly 12 years with no visits. However, he did open the pontifical palace and gardens to the public for the first time, increasing tourism to the town. His successor Pope Leo XIV (2025–present) first used it as a summer residence in 2025, and said that he would continue the tradition; 2026 will be the 400-year anniversary as a papal residence. On 6 July 2025, Pope Leo XIV would begin staying at Castel Gandolfo for a six-week vacation, thus resuming the tradition of Castel Gandolfo being used as the pope's retreat and summer home. However, the main Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo still remains a museum, with Leo XIV instead staying at the Castel Gandolfo's Villa Barberini.
Main sights Religious architecture
The parish church, dedicated to St. Thomas of Villanova was designed by Bernini (1658–1661) on the order of the Chigi Pope Alexander VII, it has a square Greek key cross plan and houses a notable painting by Pietro da Cortona portraying Christ's crucifixion. Church of Our Lady of the Lake, wanted personally by Pope Paul VI, was consecrated by the same pope in 1977, on the shores of Lake Albano. Church of Santa Maria Assunta, construction began in 1619 with the consecration of the first stone by Pope Paul V. Church of Santa Maria, modern construction, situated in the populous district of Borgo San Paolo near State Road 7 Via Appia, the Ugo Bazzi theater adjoins the church. Church of San Sebastiano, dedicated to the patron saint of the city and located on State Road 7 Via Appia adjacent to the church cemetery. Church of Santa Maria Della Cona.
Civil architecture
The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the pope's summer residence, is a 17th-century building designed by Carlo Maderno for Pope Urban VIII. The papal palace and the adjoining Villa Barberini, which was added to the complex by Pius XI, have enjoyed extraterritorial rights since the signing of the 1929 treaty with Italy; the little piazza directly in front was renamed Piazza della Libertà in the first flush of Italian unity after 1870. The Papal Palace remained unused from 1870 until 1929. Villa Cybo, built by Cardinal Camillo Cybo, was annexed to the whole of the Pontifical Villas at the time of Pope Clement XIV who purchased it in 1774 from the owner at the time, Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena, for the sum of 80,000 crowns. Villa Barberini, built by the nephew of Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini), was incorporated in the extraterritorial complex of the Pontifical Villas in 1929: the manor houses the headquarters of the College of Propaganda Fide. As part of its extensive formal gardens is located the existing remains of the complex built by the Roman Emperor Domitian. Villa Santa Caterina, currently used by the Catholic Institute of Technology. During the construction of this villa, situated in the Herculaneum area, the Roman ruins of the villa commonly attributed to Publius Clodius Pulcher were discovered. Villa Torlonia, built in the 16th century by the Roman family of the Giustiniani, then passed into ownership of the Duke of Bracciano Giuseppe Torlonia. The current appearance is due to the restoration of 1829, funded by Duke Carlo Torlonia. Villa Chigi built by Cardinal Flavio Chigi, nephew of Pope Alexander VII; today it is home to a golf course. The two telescopes of the Vatican Observatory, which were moved from Rome to Castel Gandolfo in the 1930s, were still used until the 1980s. The headquarters of the Vatican Observatory is still located in Castel Gandolfo. However, its dependent research center, the Vatican Observatory Research Group (VORG), is hosted by Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona, Tucson, United States. The telescopes are located in Mt. Graham, Arizona.
Archaeological sites The site of the papal palace: rebuilt on the ruins of the former castle, partly occupies the foundations of a summer residence of the Emperor Domitian that occupied . The residence was designed by the architect Rabirius. In the palace's inner courtyard is a Roman bust depicting Polyphemus, the Cyclops from whose cave Ulysses escaped; it was found in the nymphaeum of the Imperial villa's gardens, an artificially constructed grotto of the crater lake's outlet. Supposed Villa of Publius Clodius Pulcher: the remains of a Roman villa located on the Appian Way, of National Road 7 Via Appia, inside the Villa Santa Caterina, used by the Catholic Institute of Technology. After recent studies and excavations, the site is now believed to have been an ancient shrine to the goddess Bona Dea.