Castel Gandolfo

Castel Gandolfo is a picturesque town in the hills near Rome. It has some wonderful shops and it sits on the lip of a huge volcanic crater lake. In the summer it becomes a beach-like destination. Castel Gandolfo is the home of the Summer residence of the Pope. 2020 saw the residence open to the public as Pope Francesco does not use it – it may not be open to the public forever, so it is a must to see now. You will also visit the amazing gardens, spanning around 100 acres. If you watch the film ‘The Two Popes’ (on Netflix), it will give you a flavour of this lovely place. Lunch will be taken in a unique, quirky restaurant called Arte e Vino followed by ice cream or coffee by the side of the lake.