FROM POMEZIA TO CASTEL GANDOLFO
A visit not to be missed if you stay in Pomezia
Castel Gandolfo is known as the papal summer residence but the beauty of the village makes it even more famous. Nestled in the heart of the Castelli Romani a few minutes drive from Rome and Pomezia (25 minutes).
POMEZIA
Before arriving in Castel Gandolfo we recommend a visit to the Tor Maggiore complex located in Santa Palomba in the municipality of Pomezia . It is a castrum of the Roman countryside, built on the remains of a Roman complex near the ancient Ardeatina and Patricana roads. The site consists of a crenellated wall, a religious building and a tower, which with its 34 meters of height, is considered by sources to be among the highest but above all the most beautiful and important of the entire Roman countryside.
ALBANO LAZIO
Continuing towards Castel Gandolfo you will encounter Albano Laziale, according to tradition, the name of Albano derives from that of Albalonga , the mythical city founded by Ascanio, son of Aeneas, and narrated in Virgil's Aeneid.
Worth a visit is the Villa Comunale with its splendid Italian gardens of the former Villa Doria, which include the ruins of the Villa of Pompey the Great. Also worth a visit is the Tomb of the Horatii and Curiali , an imposing tomb in the shape of a parallelepiped surmounted by truncated cones; built in the last days of the Republic and dedicated, according to popular tradition, to the five heroes who fell in the legendary duel.
CASTEL GANDOLFO
To reach Castel Gandolfo from Albano Laziale it takes only a few minutes, at the gates of the Borgo you will find a convenient parking lot and a wonderful viewpoint overlooking part of the Roman castles and Rome.
In Castel Gandolfo, in addition to visiting the characteristic village overlooking Lake Albano , a visit to the Papal Palace is a must. It dates back to 1600 and was built by Pope Urban VIII. Its current appearance was given to it in 1660 at the time of Pope Alexander VII. Inside, the Private Chapel is noteworthy, which houses an image of the Madonna from the Sanctuary of Czestochowa . The palace is an integral part of the area of over 55 hectares that constitutes the extra-territorial complex that is still owned by the Vatican City. Pope Francis decided to open the residence to the public in 2018.
The visit can continue with the Pontifical Villas consisting of the following parts:
Pontifical Gardens or Gardens of the Moro : they constitute the original historical nucleus of the Pontifical Villa, since they were organized at the time of the primitive residence of Pope Urban VIII behind the Pontifical Palace, on the site of the ancient villa of Cardinal Visconti.
Villa Cybo : built by Cardinal Camillo Cybo, it was annexed to the complex of the Pontifical Villas at the time of Pope Clement XIV who purchased it in 1774 from the owner at the time, the Duke of Modena, for the sum of 80,000 scudi.
Villa Barberini : built by the nephew of Pope Urban VIII, Maffeo Barberini, it was incorporated into the extra-territorial complex of the Pontifical Villas only in 1929: it hosts the castle headquarters of the Propaganda Fide summer college. Within its extensive Italian gardens , a good part of the existing remains of Domitian's villa are located and organized as an antiquarium , of which a large cryptoporticus, the remains of the theater and some exedras have been preserved.
LAKE OF ALBANO OR CASTEL GANDOLFO
To complete the visit we recommend a visit to Lake Albano, this small volcanic lake is part of the natural landscape of the village, so much so that many also call it Lake Castel Gandolfo .
Gioacchino Belli, a pure-blooded Roman, has chosen to explain Lake Albano to the masses
“Ah, whoever doesn't see this part of the world / doesn't even know why it was created / they made a beautiful lake surrounded / all of peperino and tuna / designed in such a way that they were / there you can see the world turned around again”
These are our suggestions for an independent visit to Castel Gandolfo , if you want we can also indicate sites where to book visits , tour operators, guides and carriers that can expand and make your visit more enjoyable.
We recommend a guided tour of Civitatis click here
As always we remain at your disposal and wish you a pleasant visit.
For information and reservations at Simon Hotel Pomezia use the form below
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