Palazzo Pontificio

The Palazzo Pontificio at Castel Gandolfo, perched above Lake Albano in the Castelli Romani hills south of Rome, served for centuries as the summer residence of the popes. The complex, which forms part of the Vatican's extraterritorial holdings under the Lateran Treaty of 1929, encompasses grand papal apartments, ceremonial halls, and working gardens that once supplied the Holy See with fresh produce. Pope Francis opened the palace and its grounds to the public in 2016, ending a tradition of near-total papal exclusivity that had defined the site for generations.

Visitors today can explore the historic state rooms, walk through the Secret Garden with its formal plantings and panoramic views over the volcanic lake, and gain a rare perspective on the private world of the modern papacy. The experience on offer through tickadoo, Castel Gandolfo Palace and Secret Garden Tickets, gives access to interiors and outdoor spaces that remained closed to the public for the better part of four centuries.