Top Things to do in Castel Gandolfo
The 6 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Castel Gandolfo, Lazio
Discover the best top things to do in Castel Gandolfo, Italy including Canoa Kayak Academy, Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, Lake Albano, Chiesa di San Tommaso da Villanova, Bordo Lago - Area PicNic, Palazzo Pontificio.
Restaurants in Castel Gandolfo
1. Canoa Kayak Academy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 69 reviews
Canoa Kayak Academy is a well-known canoeing school on the lake of Castel Gandolfo, we organize canoe and kayak courses for adults, teens and children, we also offer guided tours and kayak rentals.
2. Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,000 reviews
Reviewed By sharonhW264WM - Las Vegas, United States
Castel Gandolfo was declared property of the Holy See in the 13th century, but the castle was not built until the 17th century when other villas and cottages were being built in this area. It was renovated by Pope Pius XI in 1929 and has been used as the pope’s summer residence since them. During WWII 40 babies were born in the bedroom here, to mothers trying to escape the Nazis. Pope John Paul recovered from his injuries here when he was shot in 1980. The current Pope Francis declared that it should be open to the public since he preferred to stay in Rome and work. As we entered the gates of the Apostolic Palace, we passed the small fleet of Mercedes cars used by the Pope and the “Popemobile” with the bulletproof shell. Continuing, we made our way through display rooms showing the costumes of the Swiss Guards, the portable throne used to carry the pope in processions, and other items used by the pope. Next came galleries with portraits of all the popes, followed by a lovely cream, yellow, and gold waiting room where guests who had an audience with the pope were taken first. From there, we went through a series of waiting rooms (ante-rooms). A group of people might be granted an audience, but ultimately only one would actually see the pope. The others in the group would go as far as their “status/permission” allowed them and would wait in their assigned ante-room. The last ante-room was normally reserved for the wife of the man who had the audience. Finally came the magnificent throne room where the pope received the person granted an audience. Following that, all rooms were private. The general public was not allowed—only his private secretaries. A series of offices came next—some with elaborate desks and bookshelves and others with much simpler furniture. Then the pope’s bedroom, which was a bright and airy corner room with creamy yellow walls and mint-green drapes on four large windows. The furniture—a large bed, wardrobe, desk, and table with chairs—was made of beautifully carved wood and looked comfortable and lived-in. The bedroom opened onto a lovely little chapel with an altar and the pope’s own chair and kneeler. Following the chapel was a large gallery which led us back to the square outside. We really enjoyed being able to see this historic place. We have been to Italy on many previous occasions, but Castel Gandolfo was never open to the public before—and could be closed again, at the discretion of the pope. Don’t pass up the opportunity to see it if you can!
3. Lake Albano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 416 reviews
Reviewed By F12MPpeters - Rome, Italy
Lago Albano, Castel Gandolfo, Lazio Lago Albano is a small volcanic lake 20 km south of Rome; it’s also the most spectacular geological feature in Lazio this close to the city. Take time from your holiday itinerary and delight in the pleasures of a day out – vista/beach/water/forest/restaurant. Like just about everything in life – it’s what you make of it; this thing about appreciating the people, places and times that impact. Sit on a rock next to Lago Albano of an early morning, and listen to the quietness of the trees/forest around you; take your swim togs and, after a comfortable walk around the lake, get into the water and swim 500 m towards the centre of the lake; tread water and take in the steep crater walls around you; put your head under and swim down a couple of metres; wear swim-goggles and you can see the light above you. Imagine that space beneath you (170 m deep). You can see why the ancients delighted in leaving the heat of the city in summer for the hills around them – modern people too. After a catastrophic splurge with water over-flowing the crater wall and flooding the surrounding countryside (around 400 BCE), the Ancient Romans controlled the level of the lake by building 1,200 m tunnel through the surrounding wall (and discharging beneath what is now Castel Gandolfo). It was fed by an over-flow/chute and remains in working order to this day (and this notwithstanding 3-4 m fall in lake level during the past 50 years). You’ll find it easier to get to the lake if you have a car – 40 minutes on the Via Appia Nuova; parking is easy wherever you are, although you pay by the hour if you remain around the beach end of the lake. There’s also that suburban rail line that skirts the lake and climbs up to Castel Gandolfo Town. Catch the train from Roma Termini. That’s what we did en famille just on 30 years back – our first time to the lake. For the past 10 years or so, a small group of us have been walking the trails around the lake once/week – social walking. This thing about the dynamics of life then – once there were a regular four (more sometimes), but this time there were just the two of us. With the mid-30sdegC heat of mid-year we’ve remained largely beneath the trees. We did the much the same last week. Started at around 08.30 close to Villa Giulia below Via delle Spiaggia del Lago. Rain from the previous night had moistened the undergrowth and there were puddles in the depressions. Easy walking then with the air fresh and moist; the sort of conditions in which you quickly develop a rhythm that would enable you to walk to the ends of the Earth (or so we tell ourselves – when starting out; later it’s the prospect of that cold drink/lunch that encourages you on.). Lago Albano has a surface area 6 km2 and it’s completely enveloped by a circular 250 m wall. A loop around the lake is about 10 km – so, about three hours walking. Begin early and catch the sun across the lip of the rim as it impacts the white facade of Castel Gandolfo Town across the lake (the Pope's original summer residence from days long passed). There are others there too – you’ll bump into around 50 people - joggers, ramblers, dog-walkers and trail bikkies - you have to watch the latter - they creep up on you fast and don't tend to give way. Hmmm We've generally walked the lower trails along the lake side given that's where you find the most shade, but if you scale the wall to reach the upper walking trails you’ll get this spectacular view across to Castel Gandolfo and to the recreational end of the lake where there are beaches and more. The rim is also where you’ll find those strategically-placed restaurants that provide an ‘eating table with a world class view’. It’s the beaches that provide all those tourist services, however, with restaurants and more to suit all tastes/budgets. Peter Steele Rome 12 August 2018
4. Chiesa di San Tommaso da Villanova
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By Pinkertonx - Hereford, United Kingdom
Don't walk past, go in! This is a lovely church in the square of Castel Gandolfo, designed by Bernini in high Baroque style. There is a wonderful dome and architectural features.
5. Bordo Lago - Area PicNic
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 50 reviews
6. Palazzo Pontificio
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By Venus234
Me and my family of 4 adults made a day trip to Castel Gandolfo from Rome via train. It is a less than one hour journey, but with multiple stops on the way, as its not a high speed train. It stops at 5 to 6 small towns before reaching Castel Gondolfo. ONE SURPRISE we were met with upon reaching our destination was the lack of any sort of transportation to take us from the train station to the Pontifical Villas or the Palazzo Pontificio. We, as all others who disembarked the train, had to walk our way to the Palace (you may call in Pontifical Villas or the Palazzo that lies at its entrance. It is the centre of the town and the main tourist spot in Castel Gandolfo basically) which was located on a hill. Now, there are two routes that take you to the Palace. You can take the first route by simply walking up the slightly steep road that the train station is located on. As you start for the Palace, you will determine the correct direction by making sure that the Albano Lake is on your right hand side and the hill on your left hand side. This road goes straight until it bends in a U-turn and takes you to the Palace. The second route, is a much steeper short cut. It appears on your left hand side less than a km from the train station. It is a steep, zigzag, cobbled hill track that alternates with the seemingly longer road route to the Palace. The hill track is the one we took. This route has both positive and negative sides to it. The only plus point I can imagine is that by virtue of being a hill track, it is covered with trees and we walked the entire time in a cool shade and were saved from the scorching July sun. The negative point is that the track was way too steep. This angle was unexpected and uncalled for so it was a bit annoying. We had to stop 6 to 7 times to catch our breath and I doubt if the hill track even proved to be a short cut.. The only good thing was the shade of tree. So i suggest if the sun is not too bright and its not so hot, you should take the road rather than the hill track.
