Castel Gandolfo is a small
ItalianItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
town or
comuneIn Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in Lazio that occupies a height overlooking Lake Albano about 15 miles south-east of
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, on the
Alban HillsThe Alban Hills are the site of a quiescent volcanic complex in Italy, located southeast of Rome and about north of Anzio.The dominant peak is Monte Cavo. There are two small calderas which contain lakes, Lago Albano and Lake Nemi...
. It is best known as the summer residence of the
PopeThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. It is an Italian town with the population of 8834. The town was voted one of the most beautiful towns in Italy.
The resort community includes almost the whole coastline of Lake Albano that is surrounded by many summer residences,
villasA villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
and cottages built during the seventeenth century. It houses the Stadio Olimpico that staged the rowing events during the
Rome OlympicsThe 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
.
There are also several places of archaeological interest, including the Emissario del Lago Albano and the remains of the Villa of
DomitianDomitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
. The area is included in the boundaries of the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani (Regional Park of Castelli Romani). There are also many points of artistic interest, such as the Collegiate Church of St. Thomas of Villanova, built by
Gian Lorenzo BerniniGian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
.
Territory
The boundaries of the town extend obliquely in a north-northeast turn around the hilly area of the
Alban HillsThe Alban Hills are the site of a quiescent volcanic complex in Italy, located southeast of Rome and about north of Anzio.The dominant peak is Monte Cavo. There are two small calderas which contain lakes, Lago Albano and Lake Nemi...
and the plains of
Agro RomanusGeographically, the Ager Romanus is the name given to the immense rural area around the city of Rome. Politically and historically, it has represented the area of influence of Rome's municipal government...
. It is included and protected by the Regional Park of Castelli Romani, formed in 1984. Most of the soil is of volcanic origin, with prevalence of materials such as
tuffTuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
and
pozzolanaPozzolana, also known as pozzolanic ash , is a fine, sandy volcanic ash. Pozzolanic ash was first discovered and dug in Italy, at Pozzuoli. It was later discovered at a number of other sites as well...
. Its
seismic classificationA seismic scale is used to calculate and compare the severity of earthquakes....
is rated a Zone 2 (medium-high seismicity)
Hydrography
The main water body is Lake Albano, often called Lake Castel Gandolfo. The province of Rome currently manages the lake. Up to 1802, it was the property of the Abbey of Saint Nilus
GrottaferrataGrottaferrata, Italy is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, situated on the lower slopes of the Alban Hills, 20 km south east of Rome. It is bounded by other communes, Frascati, Rocca di Papa, Marino, and Rome.-History:...
, the
Apostolic CameraThe Apostolic Camera, or in Latin Camera Apostolica or Apostolica Camera, is the central board of finance in the Papal administrative system, which at one time was of great importance in the government of the States of the Church, and in the administration of justice, led by the Camerlengo of the...
(Catholic Church Financial Administration) and then owned by Prince Stanislaus Poniatowski in 1870.
Topography
The maximum altitude that is registered in the territory is 425 m (1,394.36 ft)
above sea levelThe term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
, at the Collegio di Propaganda Fide adjoining Villa Barberini. On the crown of the hills around the Lake Albano, stand only 400 m (1,312.34 ft)
above sea levelThe term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
, elevation of the summit of Monte Cucco, bordering
Marino, ItalyMarino is an Italian city and comune in Lazio , on the Alban Hills, Italy, 21 km south east of Rome, with population of 37,684 and a territory of 26.10 km2...
.
Towards the
Tyrrhenian SeaThe Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
, the land slopes gently, so from 250 m (820.21 ft) from the Casale Santa Cristina, below
Castel SavelloCastel Savello is a castle near Albano Laziale, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It belonged to the Savelli family....
bordering Albano, goes to 217 m (711.94 ft)
above sea levelThe term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
at Colle Lilli, to 200 m (656.17 ft) above sea level at Pozzo di Valle, to 155 m (508.53 ft) Quarto Santa bordering Marino, to 130 m (426.51 ft) above sea level of the Laghetto di Turno. The lowest altitude of the territory is 101 m (331.36 ft) above sea level at the village of
PavonaPavona is a town in Lazio, central Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Albano Laziale. However, its traditional territory is also included in those of Castel Gandolfo and Rome.-Overview:...
.
Climate
In terms of climate, the area falls within the domain of the temperate
Mediterranean climateA Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
with mild winters, autumn temperatures higher than those of spring, and ventilated summers. In the area of Colli Albani, and at Castel Gandolfo, the phenomenon known as
stauAir stagnation is a phenomenon which occurs when an air mass remains over an area for an extended period of time. Due to light winds and lack of precipitation, pollutants cannot be cleared from the air, either gaseous or particulate...
, which is the reduction of water vapor in the clouds as the ground rises can be observed. Summers are hot and dry, while winter is mild and rainy without, in general, extreme low temperatures and snow. In summer, temperatures can reach 35 °C (95 °F) with peaks of 37 °C (99 °F) in rare cases.
Climate classificationClimate classification systems are ways of classifying the world's climates. A climate classification may correlate closely with a biome category, as climate is a major influence on biological life in a region...
: Zone D, 1966 GR / G .
Etymology
The name "Castel Gandolfo" is derived from the Latin Castrum Gandulphi, the name of the castle on this site was presumably owned by the family of
GandolfiGandolfi is an Italian surname, from a Lombardic given name Gundulf.people called Gandolfi:* Ubaldo Gandolfi , an Italian painter* Gaetano Gandolfi , an Italian painter* Mauro Gandolfi , an Italian painter and printmaker...
, originally from
GenoaGenoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. Another hypothesis, supported by
Pope Pius IIPope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
in his commentary (1462), is that the name results from Gandulphi Sabinorum, from a certain Gandolfo Savelli.
Ancient (3000 BC-476 A.D.)
Archaeological findings from the 16th century BC have been found in the area of what is now Castel Gandolfo.
At the site of the modern Castel Gandolfo stood in pre-Roman age, the famous
Alba LongaAlba Longa – in Italian sources occasionally written Albalonga – was an ancient city of Latium in central Italy southeast of Rome in the Alban Hills. Founder and head of the Latin League, it was destroyed by Rome around the middle of the 7th century BC. In legend, Romulus and Remus, founders of...
, capital of the mythical
Latin LeagueThe Latin League was a confederation of about 30 villages and tribes in the region of Latium near ancient Rome, organized for mutual defense...
, a city founded by
AscaniusAscanius is the son of the Trojan hero Aeneas and a legendary king of Alba Longa. He is a character of Roman mythology, and has a divine lineage, being the son of Aeneas, who is son of Venus and the hero Anchises, a relative of Priam; thus Ascanius has divine ascendents by both parents, being...
, the son of
AeneasAeneas , in Greco-Roman mythology, was a Trojan hero, the son of the prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite. His father was the second cousin of King Priam of Troy, making Aeneas Priam's second cousin, once removed. The journey of Aeneas from Troy , which led to the founding a hamlet south of...
.
Many historians and scholars have speculated that the site of the city’s
acropolisAcropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
was exactly the site of the modern town of Castel Gandolfo, but since the nineteenth century, the best hypothesis is that the settlement was on the opposite side of the Lake Albano, between the towns Costa Caselle Marino and locality Palazzolo di
Rocca di PapaRocca di Papa is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani about 25 km south east of Rome on the Alban Hills. It is bounded by the other communes of Velletri, Rocca Priora, Monte Compatri, Grottaferrata, Albano and Marino...
. Alba Longa was destroyed by the
RomansAncient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
after a war in 658 BC.
In 396 BC the Romans dug the Emissario (canal) del Lago Albano, in order to fulfill a prophecy of the Oracle of Delphi regarding the
Battle of VeiiThe Battle of Veii, also known as the Siege of Veii is a battle of ancient Rome, approximately dated at 406 BC. The main source about it is Livy's Ab Urbe Condita....
.
Between the Republican age, and the Imperial Age, and the opening of the
Appian WayThe Appian Way was one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, Apulia, in southeast Italy...
, many patrician summer residences were established starting with the Villa of
ClodiusClodius is an alternate form of the Roman nomen Claudius, a patrician gens that was traditionally regarded as Sabine in origin. The alternation of o and au is characteristic of the Sabine dialect...
at Ercolano, attributed to
Publius Clodius PulcherPublius Clodius Pulcher was a Roman politician known for his popularist tactics...
at which Clodius himself was assassinated in 54 BC. The biggest villa was the Villa of Domitian at Castel Gandolfo, a large complex that partly enclosed Villa Barberini, and embraced a large territory that included Lake Albano and numerous imperially owned buildings. The imperial villa, which fell into disuse after the construction of
HadrianHadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
's Villa at
TivoliTivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
, was then called Massa Caesariana, and much later eventually became the property of the
Holy SeeThe Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, was added to the Patrimonium Appiae (See
Patrimonium Sancti PetriThe expression Patrimonium Sancti Petri, or shorter Patrimonium Petri, meaning 'Patrimony of Peter', originally designated the landed possessions and revenues of various kinds that belonged to the Church of St. Peter The expression Patrimonium Sancti Petri, or shorter Patrimonium Petri, meaning...
).Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica - Castel-Gandolfo, vol. X pp. 153–175, Venezia, Tipografia Emiliani, 1841.
Medieval (476-1604)
The territory of Castel Gandolfo, including the Massa Caesariana, became the property of the Counts of
TusculumTusculum is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy.-Location:Tusculum is one of the largest Roman cities in Alban Hills. The ruins of Tusculum are located on Tuscolo hill—more specifically on the northern edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano...
and in the early 11th century became part of the Abbey of San Nilo
GrottaferrataGrottaferrata, Italy is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, situated on the lower slopes of the Alban Hills, 20 km south east of Rome. It is bounded by other communes, Frascati, Rocca di Papa, Marino, and Rome.-History:...
. The
GandolfiGandolfi is an Italian surname, from a Lombardic given name Gundulf.people called Gandolfi:* Ubaldo Gandolfi , an Italian painter* Gaetano Gandolfi , an Italian painter* Mauro Gandolfi , an Italian painter and printmaker...
family of
LombardThe Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
origin from
GenoaGenoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
erected the Castrum, which still bears their name. In 1221, the castle became the possession of the Savelli family; In 1482,
Pope Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
granted the ownership of Castel Gandolfo to the community of
VelletriVelletri is an Italian town of 53,298 inhabitants. It is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Lazio - Italy. It is bounded by other communes of Rocca di Papa, Lariano, Cisterna di Latina, Artena, Aprilia, Nemi, Genzano di Roma, Lanuvio...
, which had been damaged by the Savellis.
Pope Sixtus VPope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
elevated Castel Gandolfo to the level of
DuchyA duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
in favor of Bernardino Savelli. However, due to the insolvency of the Savelli Duchy in the payment of huge debts, the property returned to the
Apostolic CameraThe Apostolic Camera, or in Latin Camera Apostolica or Apostolica Camera, is the central board of finance in the Papal administrative system, which at one time was of great importance in the government of the States of the Church, and in the administration of justice, led by the Camerlengo of the...
on June 30, 1596.
Pope Clement VIIIPope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
then included the castle in the list of goods of the Holy See that could not be sold.
Early Modern (1604-1870)
Under the new government of the Apostolic Camera,
Pope Paul V-Theology:Paul met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 after Cardinal Bellarmine had, on his orders, warned Galileo not to hold or defend the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus. Whether there was also an order not to teach those ideas in any way has been a matter for controversy...
started major public works. Works included starting a water pipeline to the castle from the heights of Malafitto and Palazzolo, and founding a Reformed Franciscans (1619) monastery.
Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
in 1628 was the first Pope to stay in Castel Gandolfo. The first
Papal BullA Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
issued by a pope from Castel Gandolfo was also written by Pope Urban VIII on October 25, 1626.
At the time of
Pope Alexander VIIPope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
( 1655–1667), new public works were initiated, including the road that leads up to the Palazzolo paralleling the
cragsA crag is a rocky hill or mountain, generally isolated from other high ground. Crags are formed when a glacier or ice sheet passes over an area that contains a particularly resistant rock formation...
of the Lake Albano, called in ancient Via Alessandrina. Other works include the accommodations of the Pontifical Palace (1660) and the construction of the Collegiate Church of St. Thomas of Villanova (1658–1661) by architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta in nearby
AricciaAriccia is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, central Italy. It is in the Alban Hills of the Lazio region and could be considered an extension of Rome's southeastern suburbs...
Chigi.
On September 24, 1728 the Castel Gandolfo government was given
pro temporePro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
by
Pope Benedict XIII
in the Bull Aequitatis Maggiordomo of Sacred Palaces.
Pope Benedict XIVPope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
(1740–1758) made frequent visits to Castel Gandolfo, overseeing construction of the Papal Palace main façade bell tower and widened the road that leads to Marino, now State Route 216.
After the
FrenchThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
seized Rome in February 1798, they established the Repubblica Albanense, which included the towns
Albano LazialeAlbano Laziale is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio...
,
FrascatiFrascati is a town and comune in the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum. Frascati is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific...
,
VelletriVelletri is an Italian town of 53,298 inhabitants. It is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Lazio - Italy. It is bounded by other communes of Rocca di Papa, Lariano, Cisterna di Latina, Artena, Aprilia, Nemi, Genzano di Roma, Lanuvio...
and Marino. In this case, Castel Gandolfo was joined to the city of Albano, but on February 21 the Castel Gandolfo rose up against the French along with other inhabitants of the Castelli Romani. During the
Napoleonic WarsThe Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, some 900 anti-French citizens of neighboring Velletri held out in Castel Gandolfo, resisting the siege by
Joachim MuratJoachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
. The counter-revolutionaries were defeated by the French in the Battle of Frattocchie or Castel Gandolfo (February 24, 1798), following which the French sacked the Papal Palace.
With the return of
Pope Pius VIIPope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
, Castel Gandolfo was returned to the Maggiordomo dei Sacri Palazzi (Government of the Sacred Palaces) and this lasted until September 1870. According to tradition, the first mailbox in the world can be found in Freedom Square.
Unification of Italy to Modern (1870-2000)
On September 20, 1870 the
Papal StatesThe Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
officially ended with the taking of
Porta PiaPorta Pia is a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome, Italy. One of Pope Pius IV's civic improvements to the city, it is named after him. Situated at the end of a new street, the Via Pia, it was designed by Michelangelo in replacement for the Porta Nomentana situated several hundred meters...
and the entrance of
militiaThe term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
men in Rome.
Pope Pius IXBlessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, who had left Castel Gandolfo in May 1869 was the last pope to put foot in the Papal Palace until 1929.
On February 11, 1929 with the publication of the Lateran Pacts,
Benito MussoliniBenito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
granted the nascent State of
Vatican CityVatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
possession of the Papal Palace with adjacent houses for a total of 110 acre (44.52 ha). In 1933 the
Vatican ObservatoryThe Vatican Observatory is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in Rome, it now has headquarters and laboratory at the summer residence of the Pope in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and an observatory at the Mount Graham International...
was moved from the Vatican because of too much artificial light in Rome and installed at Castel Gandolfo. In January 2008, it was announced that, due to the deterioration of visibility in the
Castelli RomaniThe Castelli Romani is a group of communes in the province of Rome, Italy. They are located at short distance south-east to Rome, at the feet of the Alban Hills.-Overview:...
, the center would be moved to the United States of America.
The January 22, 1944 invasion by British and Americans at
AnzioAnzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
brought the Castelli Romani to the forefront of clashes during the Second World War. On February 1,
AricciaAriccia is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, central Italy. It is in the Alban Hills of the Lazio region and could be considered an extension of Rome's southeastern suburbs...
and
Albano LazialeAlbano Laziale is a comune in the province of Rome, on the Alban Hills, in Latium, central Italy. It is also a suburb of Rome, which is 25 km distant. It is bounded by other communes of Castel Gandolfo, Rocca di Papa, Ariccia and Ardea. Located in the Castelli Romani area of Lazio...
were bombed, with the destruction of the local convent of Poor Clares with a toll of 16 killed. On February 2, Marino was hit with several hundred victims, and then the February 10 bombing struck the College of Propaganda Fide, causing 500 civilian deaths. The Pontifical Villas served some 12,000-refugee children and forty births during the war.
On September 19, 1994, Italian President
Oscar Luigi ScalfaroOscar Luigi Scalfaro , Italian politician and magistrate, was the ninth President of the Italian Republic from 1992 to 1999, and is currently a senator for life...
granted to the town of Castel Gandolfo the title of City.
Religious Architecture
- The parish church, dedicated to St. Thomas of Villanova
St. Thomas of Villanova, O.S.A. , was a preacher, ascetic, writer andSpanish friar of the Order of Saint Augustine....
was designed by BerniniGian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
(1658–1661) on the order of the Chigi Pope Alexander VIIPope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
. It has a square plant, and houses a notable pale by Pietro da CortonaPietro da Cortona, by the name of Pietro Berrettini, born Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, was the leading Italian Baroque painter of his time and also one of the key architects in the emergence of Roman Baroque architecture. He was also an important decorator...
portraying the Crucifixion of Christ.
- Church of Our Lady of the Lake; wanted personally by Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
, was consecrated by the same Pope in 1977 on the shores of Lake Albano.
- Church of Santa Maria Assunta, and its construction was begun in 1619 with the consecration of the first stone by Pope Paul V
-Theology:Paul met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 after Cardinal Bellarmine had, on his orders, warned Galileo not to hold or defend the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus. Whether there was also an order not to teach those ideas in any way has been a matter for controversy...
. Originally there were installed Reformed Franciscans, but later there was the seat of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide,
- Church of Santa Maria, of modern construction, situated in the populous district of Borgo San Paolo, near the State Road 7 Via Appia. Adjoining the church there is the theatre "Ugo Bazzi."
- Church of San Sebastiano, dedicated to the patron saint of the city and located on State Road 7 Via Appia, at kilometer 23, adjacent to the church cemetery.
- Church of Santa Maria della Cona.
Civil Architecture
- The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo (Palazzo Apostolico di Castel Gandolfo in Italian
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
), the Pope'sThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
summer residence, is a 17th century building designed by Carlo MadernoCarlo Maderno was a Swiss-Italian architect, born in Ticino, who is remembered as one of the fathers of Baroque architecture. His façades of Santa Susanna, St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Andrea della Valle were of key importance in the evolution of the Italian Baroque...
for Pope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
. The papal palace, and the adjoining Villa Barberini that was added to the complex by Pius XIPope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
have enjoyed extraterritorial rightsExtraterritoriality is the state of being exempt from the jurisdiction of local law, usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations. Extraterritoriality can also be applied to physical places, such as military bases of foreign countries, or offices of the United Nations...
since the signature of the 1929 treaty with Italy; the little piazza directly in front was renamed Piazza della Libertà in the first flush of Italian unityItalian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
after 1870. The Papal Palace remained unused from 1870 until 1929. Popes Pius XIIThe Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
(1958) and Paul VIPaul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
(1978) died at Castel Gandolfo.
- Cybo Villa, built by Cardinal Camillo Cibo, was annexed to the whole of the Pontifical Villas at the time of Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
who purchased it in 1774 from the owner at the time, Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena, for the sum of 80,000 crowns.
- Villa Barberini, built by the nephew of Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
(Maffeo Barberini), was incorporated in the extraterritorialExtraterritoriality is the state of being exempt from the jurisdiction of local law, usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations. Extraterritoriality can also be applied to physical places, such as military bases of foreign countries, or offices of the United Nations...
complex of the Pontifical Villas only in 1929: manor houses the headquarters of the College of Propaganda Fide. As part of its extensive formal gardens is located, on the existing remains of the complex built by the Roman Emperor Domitian;
- Villa Santa Caterina, currently owned by the Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
. During, in the construction of this villa, situated in the HerculaneumHerculaneum was an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in AD 79, located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano, in the Italian region of Campania in the shadow of Mt...
area, were discovered the Roman ruins of the villa attributed to Publius Clodius Pulcher.
- Villa Torlonia, built in the sixteenth century by the Roman family of the Giustiniani, then passed into ownership of the Duke of Bracciano Giuseppe Torlonia. The current appearance is due to the restoration of 1829, funded by Duke Carlo Torlonia. The villa has a beautiful landscape on the Agro Romano.
- Villa Chigi built by Cardinal Flavio Chigi, nephew of Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
, today is home to a golf course.
- The two telescopes of the Vatican Observatory
The Vatican Observatory is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in Rome, it now has headquarters and laboratory at the summer residence of the Pope in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and an observatory at the Mount Graham International...
, which were moved from RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to Castel Gandolfo in the 1930s, were still used until the 1980s. The headquarters of the Vatican Observatory is still located in Castel Gandolfo. However, its dependent research center, the Vatican Observatory Research Group (VORG), is hosted by Steward ObservatoryThe University of Arizona's Steward Observatorys main office is located on the University's campus and is closely tied to the Department of Astronomy. Established in 1916 by its first director, Andrew Ellicott Douglass, and a $60,000 bequest made by Lavinia Steward in memory of her late husband...
at the University of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, Tucson, USA. The telescopes are located in Mt. Graham, Arizona.
Archaeological sites
- The site of the papal palace, rebuilt on the ruins of the former castle, partly occupies the foundations of a summer residence of the Emperor Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
that occupied 14 km² (5.4 sq mi). The residence was designed by the famous architect RabiriusRabirius was an Ancient Roman architect who lived during the 1st and 2nd Century AD. His designs included the massive Flavian Palace, situated on the Palatine Hill at Rome, and the Alban Villa at present-day Castel Gandolfo, both erected on a commission by his patron, emperor Domitian.Domitian's...
. In the palace's inner courtyard is a Roman bust depicting PolyphemusPolyphemus is the gigantic one-eyed son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes. His name means "much spoken of" or "famous". Polyphemus plays a pivotal role in Homer's Odyssey.-In Homer's Odyssey:...
, the CyclopsA cyclops , in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead...
from whose cave UlyssesOdysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
escaped; it was found in the nymphaeumA nymphaeum or nymphaion , in ancient Greece and Rome, was a monument consecrated to the nymphs, especially those of springs....
of the Imperial villa's gardens, an artificially constructed grotto of the crater lake's outlet.
- Villa of Publius Clodius Pulcher
Publius Clodius Pulcher was a Roman politician known for his popularist tactics...
, these are the remains of a Roman villa located on the Appian Way, 23 km of National Road 7 Via Appia, inside the Villa Santa Caterina, owned by the Pontifical North American College .
- The Bergantino or bath of Diana
In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt and moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy...
nymphaeumA nymphaeum or nymphaion , in ancient Greece and Rome, was a monument consecrated to the nymphs, especially those of springs....
; on the western shores of the Lake Albano, two kilometers after the DoricDoric may refer to:* Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians* Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture* Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode* Doric dialect...
nymphaeum, this structure, originally annexed to the Domitian Villa at Castel Gandolfo, opens in a circular Cave of 17 meters in diameter. There is a bath in the middle of the cave, and the floor was completely covered with mosaics, of which a few fragments remain. Various parts of sculptural groups now kept at the Pontifical Palace in Castel Gandolfo have been found in the nymphaeum.
- Emissario Lake Albano; artificial conduit of runoff water along 1800 meters that arises from the West coast of the Lake Albano and leads into Castel Gandolfo locations. It was built, according to the tradition in 396 BC to dissolve a prophecy during the conquest of Veii
Veii was, in ancient times, an important Etrurian city NNW of Rome, Italy; its site lies in Isola Farnese, a village of Municipio XX, an administrative subdivision of the comune of Rome in the Province of Rome...
.
Natural Areas
The town of Castel Gandolfo is included in the boundaries of the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani. The major forested areas within its jurisdiction are serious fire risk in summer. The main green area of the town of Castel Gandolfo is represented by the totality of the Pontifical Villas of extraterritorial property of the State of Vatican City.
Schools
Castel Gandolfo does not host secondary schools, but within the municipal area lie a private kindergarten run by the Paul VI Pontifical Municipal School, which is primary and secondary level. Finally, there are the Scuola Media Statale "Dante Alighieri" and other religious institutions, which deal with primary education.
Walsh UniversityWalsh University is a private non-profit, 4-year, Roman Catholic university in North Canton, Ohio, USA. It was founded in 1960 by the Brothers of Christian Instruction, initially as a liberal arts college. Walsh College became Walsh University in 1993. The University offers more than 50 majors,...
, which has its main campus in North Canton, OH in the United States of America, holds a small campus in Castel Gandolfo. Classes are held in the fall, spring, and summer for Walsh students.
Art
Theater
Castel Gandolfo has a long theatrical tradition, as witnessed by the hall theater "Ugo Bazzi", is a recently restored annex to the Santa Maria Ausiliatrice. There performances are held mostly held by local companies. Addition, on March 2008 was inaugurated the theater Salapetrolini in Via Prati.
Cuisine
Many local restaurants in the municipality have panoramic views and the antiquity of the tradition. The restaurant "Pagnanelli" for example has been operational since 1882, in a strategic position so that it is even on the map of Military Geographical Institute.
Video games
Castel Gandolfo has also recently been portrayed in the video game 'Assassins Creed Brotherhood', in which the castle is a multiplayer map location.
Notable Citizens
- Luigi Centusione (Genoa 1686 - Castel Gandolfo, 1757): priest and religious authority, seventeenth Superior General of the Society of Jesus (November 30, 1755 - October 2, 1757).
- Massimo d'Azeglio (Torino 1798–1866): Statesman and diarist,
- Pietro Savorgnan di Brazzà
Pietro Paolo Savorgnan di Brazzà, best known as Pierre Paul François Camille Savorgnan de Brazza , was a Franco-Italian explorer, born in Italy and later naturalized Frenchman...
(Castel Gandolfo 1852 - Dakar 1905): Explorer of the Congo RiverThe Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
and founder of Brazzaville-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
(1880), capital of the Republic of Congo, was an official of the French colonial government in Equatorial Africa.
- Rubi Dalma ( Milano 1906 - Castel Gandolfo 1994): actress.
- Achille Serra ( Roma 1941 ): lawman, writer, prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of Rome from 2003 to 2007 and senator, was an honorary citizen of Castel Gandolfo on January 18, 2007.
Events
- The feast of the patron saint, San Sebastian is celebrated on the first weekend of September, though the feast of this saint is marked on the calendar on 20 January. The festival concludes with fireworks over the lake.
- The village celebrates St. Paul and St. Mary Ausiliatrice the last Sunday of May.
- The local market takes place on Friday morning.
- The last Sunday of July there is the "Festival of Peaches", during which there are organized cultural, entertainment and sporting events.
- March for Peace, established by Municipal Statute in the month of January of each year.
- Premio "Città di Castel Gandolfo" is a prize to personalities, bodies or associations that during each year bring the city prestige, and better quality of life or have distinguished themselves in any branch of culture, sport, or human knowledge.
- Castel Gandolfo Fotografia ; photography competition established in 2007 by the homonymous association and the City.
Urban
The original nucleus of living of the city is the Papal Palace, which was the ancient Castrum Gadulphorum, the stronghold of the family Gandolfi, and the Collegiate Church of St. Thomas, which occupies the area of the ancient parish church of San Michele. This core is now occupied by the Piazza della Libertà, true heart of the historic center.
The main artery of the historic center is Corso della Repubblica, which continues to Albano Laziale through the Galleria di Sopra. Other routes parallel this road including the Papal Palace and the panoramic Via della Saponara, overlooking Lake Albano.
The new expansion of Castel Gandolfo has started since the beginning of the twentieth century, first near the State Road 216 Maremmana III, then with the birth of the Borgo San Paolo a little further downstream, with the work of several cooperatives that have all that urbanized the area along State Road 7 Via Appia.
The urbanization of Pavona at the castle is also recent and follows State Road 207 Nettunense and Provincial Road 101 / a Via Colonnelle.
Frazioni
| Recent Population Trends |
| 1982 |
6122 |
| 1985 |
6365 |
| 1990 |
6629 |
| 1995 |
7220 |
| 2000 |
7979 |
| 2001 |
7930 |
| 2002 |
7925 |
| 2003 |
8108 |
| 2004 |
8539 |
| 2005 |
8592 |
| 2006 |
8643 |
| 2007 |
8619 |
PavonaPavona is a town in Lazio, central Italy. It is a frazione of the comune of Albano Laziale. However, its traditional territory is also included in those of Castel Gandolfo and Rome.-Overview:...
was centered around a tavern on the way to
NettunoNettuno is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy, 60 kilometers south of Rome. It is named in honour of the Roman god Neptune...
and the villa of Cardinal Flavio Chigi (1631–1693), nephew of Pope Alexander VII. The place was urbanized during the twentieth century, thanks to the opening of the railway Roma-Velletri, and today is divided between the municipalities of Castel Gandolfo, Albano Laziale and Rome. The part castle, known as Pavona Pond due to the above-named for Round Pond, has about 3000 inhabitants and has as its patron saint St. Eugene III of Toledo.
Mole di Castel Gandolfo, divided in part by the town of Albano Laziale, owe their name to the presence in the place of ancient mass fed by the waters of the Emissary of Lake Albano, which were used until the nineteenth century by the inhabitants of Castel Gandolfo and Albano Laziale to crush the grain.
Administration
- Mayor: Maurizio Colacchio (Lista Civica) from 29/05/2007 (2nd term)
- Telephone: 06/9359181
Agriculture
In all the municipalities in the Alban Hills, agriculture, and particularly wine production, has always been the main economic voice and employer. Notable wines include the Frascati, the Marino, the Velletri and the Colli Lanuvini.
The production of wine, and vanished era of small farmers is maintained by major producers such as Cantina Sociale Gotto d'Oro of Marino and Frascati, which is based in the nearby town of Castelluccia, and the Wine Cellar Social Albano Laziale and Ariccia, based in Fontana di Papa.
Services
Municipal Statute prohibits installation of equipment and systems, fixed telecommunication and radio devices, particularly equipment for radio, television and mobile telephony, and systems for radio amateurs. This prohibition is exempt for military installations, civil protection and forest protection.
Most services such as hospitals or cinemas are based outside the city in larger centers like Marino, Frascati, Albano Laziale and Genzano di Roma. However, these centers are all reached by car or public transport. In return, the city is commercially very lively, thanks to the continuous influx of Italian tourists and foreigners linked to the presence of the Papal Palace and, at certain times of the Pope.
Tourism
Castel Gandolfo is undoubtedly the most popular tourist town of Castelli Romani. In fact, regular groups of Italian and foreign tourists utilize all of the parking built specifically for tourists. On the occasion of Angelus or the hearings on the Pope during his stay, many foreign pilgrims arrive in town, so that the streets and squares in the center are filled.
Sport
For the XVII Olympiad in Rome in 1960, the Italian Olympic Committee built the Olympic Stadium and the Federal Center for Canoe / Kayak on Lake Albano,. At this stage the races were held in this discipline, and even today the Italian Federation of Canoe / Kayak considers this one of its most important training cites
Canoe/Kayak
Since 1960, Lake Albano has been used for Olympic competitions for the sport. Currently, the Master Line Canoeing Sports Association, active since 2005, scored important achievements promote the sport. Another school of kayaking is held by the ASD Polisportiva Giovanile Salesiana Castel Gandolfo.
Soccer
Castel Gandolfo has had an amateur football club since 2005 at Oratory Parish St. Thomas of Villanova, which organizes friendly matches with other teams in the area.
Golf
In the 1970s, Castel Gandolfo Country Club opened in Pavona. The complex is located in the crater of the ancient dried up lake and in the ancient villa of Cardinal Flavio Chigi.
Rugby
The league includes youth ranging from Under 6 to 16, a senior women's team, an adult male and a senior men's team. The latter, formed in 2009, campaigning in the regional championship of the C series (season 2009/2010).
Twin towns - sister cities
Castel Gandolfo is
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Châteauneuf-du-PapeChâteauneuf-du-Pape is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-History:Châteauneuf-du-Pape is firmly entwined with papal history. In 1308, Pope Clement V, former Archbishop of Bordeaux, relocated the papacy to the city of Avignon...
,
FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
CurepipeCurepipe is a town centrally situated in Mauritius, an island country in the southwest Indian Ocean. It is second in size and importance to Port Louis, the capital....
,
MauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
External links
September 29, 1999