The Pope's Summer Residence Opens to the Public
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The traditional summer residence of the pope on a hilltop above Lake Albano is opening to the public for the first time on Oct. 21, 2016. Castel Gandolfo, just 12 miles from Rome, has been little used by Pope Francis who found it "too luxurious." The 135-acre complex was built in the 17th century and has been used by almost every pope since. It includes a working farm that supplies the Vatican with eggs, dairy and produce. Visitors will be able to glimpse the bed where Popes Pius XII and Paul VI died and where John Paul II recovered from an assassination attempt.
