Did you know that Castel Gandolfo is famous for being the Pope's summer residence? With your ticket, you'll be able to tour the gardens and rooms of these pontifical villas belonging to the Vatican.
Tour Options
When booking, you can choose between the following options:
Papal Palace & Secret Garden Ticket
At your chosen time, you can enter by presenting your ticket at the entrance to the Pontifical Villas on Via Massimo d'Azeglio. Ready to discover the Pope's historic summer residence?
The complex ceased to be a residence by the decision of Pope Francis, who ordered to turn these pontifical villas into a museum so that they could be visited by the public. Are you curious to know who spent their summer holidays in these buildings?
The ticket includes access to the beautiful Secret Garden, as well as the Apostolic Palace or Papal Palace, where you'll visit its different rooms, such as the throne room, the hall of the Swiss guard, the astronomical observatory, or the gallery of Benedict XIV. Of course, you'll also see the balcony from where the Popes prayed the Angelus every Sunday in summer.
After an hour, the visit will come to an end, which won't include a guide or an audio guide.
Castel Gandolfo Pontifical Villas Tour
Want an even more complete visit? If so, we'll meet at Piazza della Libertà to board a vehicle and explore the vast gardens of the Pontifical Villas. They cover 55 hectares (136 acres)!
We'll admire the remains of the Roman villa of Emperor Domitian, discovering curious facts about some of the Popes, thanks to the audio guide in English. Do you know who the pontiff was who installed the swimming pool? Or the one who stayed hidden in Castel Gandolfo for months after submitting his resignation?
Along the way, we'll make several stops to visit areas of great historical and artistic interest, such as the Villa Barberini, the Garden of the Moor, or the Villa Cybo. We'll tell you loads of interesting facts about the places we visit while admiring the vegetation, fountains, and numerous sculptures.
After an hour, we'll arrive back at the starting point.