Castel Gandolfo

Castel Gandolfo is a small Italian town located in the Lazio region, on the shores of Lake Albano, 18 km southeast of Rome. The town is well known for being the location of the Pope's summer residence.

It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

History
Archaeological evidence shows that the area of Castel Gandolfo was inhabited as early as the 16th century BC. It may have been the site of the ancient city of Alba Longa, once the capital of the Latin League. Later, Roman Emperor Domitian built a large palace there.

The name Castel Gandolfo comes from a 12th-century fortress owned by the Gandolfi family, later passed to the Savelli family. In 1596, the papacy bought the property, and Pope Urban VIII made it an official papal residence in 1626. During the Napoleonic Wars, about 900 local citizens took refuge in the town to resist French forces.

In World War II, Pope Pius XII opened Castel Gandolfo to people fleeing the war around Rome. Around 12,000 refugees, including many Jews and non-Catholics, found shelter there. Animals were brought along, and the Pope’s private rooms were used as a nursery. Thirty-six babies were born there, many named after the Pope.

Pope Benedict (2005-2013) loved it so much he briefly retired there after leaving the papacy. Pope Francis (2013–2025) rarely visited Castel Gandolfo, going nearly 12 years without a stay. However, he opened the papal palace and gardens to the public for the first time, which increased tourism.
His successor, Pope Leo XIV (2025–present), used it as a summer residence in 2025 and announced he would continue the tradition. In 2026, Castel Gandolfo will mark 400 years as a papal residence.

On July 6, 2025, Pope Leo XIV began a six-week vacation there, reviving the tradition of using it as the Pope’s summer retreat. However, the main Apostolic Palace remains a museum; the Pope stayed in the nearby Villa Barberini.

International relations

 Twin towns — sister cities 
Castel Gandolfo is twinned with the following cities:
  Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
  Curepipe, Mauritius

 References 

Category:Settlements in the Metropolitan City of Rome