Visit the Apostolic Palace, also known as the Papal Palace of the sleepy town of Castel Gandolfo, and stroll in the lush Secret Gardens to be one with nature.
Highlights
Highlights
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Visit the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the exclusive residence of the Pope, for centuries prior, and admire its extravagance.
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See the large display of cars at the palace, and marvel at paintings, frescoes, and portraits that add a lot of character to the arches and pillars.
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Venture into the lush gardens of Villa Barberini or Secret Gardens to see its trimmed hedges, mazes, and flowers in bloom making this garden a beautiful escape.
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Enjoy the sparkling waters and the lush green countryside of Castel Gandolfo and see for yourself why this place was chosen by emperors and popes as a summertime residence.
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Did you know that Michaelangelo’s awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel also lies within The Apostolic Palace?
Inclusions
Inclusions
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1.5-hour self-guided tour of Apostolic Palace & Secret Garden
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Entry to Papal Apartments
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Entry to Secret Garden
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Audio guide (optional)
Cancellation policy
Cancellation policy
These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Reviews
Reviews
Giuseppe
Oct, 2024
Roberta
Sep, 2024
Emanuele
Sep, 2024
Iris
Oct, 2024
Marcy
Oct, 2024
Your experience
Your experience
Explore the summer residence of the Pope
Head to Castel Gandolfo. Lying on the edge of Lake Albano, in the Alban Hills just south of Rome, this place is commonly known as the Pope’s city, housing the Pope’s summertime residence - The Apostolic Palace. This was the place the Pope escaped to when Vatican pressures built up. The palace dominates the town and is seated on a scenic spot overlooking the lake, with picturesque gardens built on the site of the ancient villas. Displaying a mixture of Medieval and Baroque architecture, the palace is a sight for sore eyes! Meanwhile, enjoy a multilingual audio guide upon an upgrade, that will narrate a 500-year history of various popes. Drown yourself in history as you experience a holy detour.
The Papal gardens of Castel Gandolfo
The Papal Villas are styled gardens of Italian wonder consisting of archaeological treasures and works of art. Enjoy a regenerating walk in the vast gardens of Villa Barberini. This was the private garden of the Pope himself. A close relationship with nature is ever-present across the decorations found in the gardens with cascades of flowers and reflections on the passage of time. The Papal Villas extend over the remains of the famous Villa of Domitian. Equipped for cold and harsh weather, rich in natural beauty, sumptuous buildings, monuments, and works of art, this was the villa that once housed emperor Domitian. The villa was once a huge complex that was built on three terraces, with three courtyards, some water features that looked out on the Avenue of Nymphaea, a cryptoportico (covered passage), a theatre, and a circus.
Operating hours
Operating hours
Know before you go
Know before you go
What's not allowed
- Strict dress code: visitors must cover their knees, arms and back.
Accessibility
- This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.
My tickets
My tickets
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Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.
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Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption point.
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Please arrive at the redemption point 20 mins before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.
Ticket redemption point
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Show your ticket at Palazzo Pontificio.
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Address: Piazza della Libertà, 00073 Castel Gandolfo RM, Italy.
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Head to the ticketing desk inside the Villa, after passing the security check.