Castelgandolfo - Staying at the Pope's
The road to Gandolfo
We arrived to Castelgandolfo by a sturdy old train over the hillsides. I bet Robert Ludlum didn't think of this view when he chose that title for his book.
Train tracks outside Castelgandolfo
Castelgandolfo
The palace Palazzo Pontificio is situated on high ground above the large crater lake Lago Albano. Pope Urbanus VIII selected it as his summer residence in 1626.
The hill of Castelgandolfo
Castelgandolfo
The walking path to the top is long and tedious, and cats watch your every step.
Walking up the hill
Lady of the lake
The view of Lago Albano from the surrounding hills is breathtakingly beautiful.
Castelgandolfo
A room with a view
Not really your everyday view from a bedroom window.
Lago Albano
Beach stroller
Lago Albano was known as Albanus Lacus to the ancient Roman Empire. This is another one of the places where Romulus and Remus are said to have been born.
Reine at Castelgandolfo
Roman domes
Castelgandolfo is also the site of the Vatican Observatory. In 1935 two domes were moved here from Rome, due to light pollution.
At the roof of Castelgandolfo
Stories of old
It's not everywhere you can browse the early editions of the classic works by Copernicus and Galileo. The observatory also hosts a meteorite collection and a rock from the moon.
Library of the Vatican Observatory
McDivine
The Ristorante Bucci has one of the best views in the world for your evening tiramisu.
Alley leading to Ristorante Bucci
Sleepless
Reine waiting for a train in Castelgandolfo