Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo



The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo (from the Italian name, Palazzo Apostolico di Castel Gandolfo ‒ also known as the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo) is a 17th-century papal palace abutting the city of Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and Lake Albano. It serves as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope, the leader of the Catholic Church. Although abutting the town of Castel Gandolfo, the residence is afforded extraterritorial status as one of the properties of the Holy See and is therefore not under the jurisdiction of Castel Gandolfo or Italy.

On Saturday, December 7, 2013, Pope Francis named the Reverend Monsignor Osvaldo Gianoli as the Director of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo; the official Vatican news release did not say whom Monsignor Gianoli had replaced or what his previous post had been.

History
The gardens occupy the site of a residence of the Roman Emperor Domitian. The palace was designed by Swiss-Italian architect Carlo Maderno for Pope Urban VIII. The palace and the adjoining Villa Barberini added to the complex by Pope Pius XI – have been extraterritorial properties of the Holy See since the signing of the 1929 Lateran Treaty with Italy.

During World War II, an unknown number of Jewish refugees took shelter at the palace under Vatican City guard.

Pope Pius XII died at the palace in 1958 as did Pope Paul VI two decades later in 1978.

During the 1960 Summer Olympics, Pope John XXIII watched canoeing and rowing events which were taking place on Lake Albano.

Pope John Paul II had a swimming pool built at the Palace, which was criticized by some. Paparazzi used the opportunity to take photos of him.

Pope Benedict XVI flew to the palace at the conclusion of his papacy on 28 February 2013.

On 23 March 2013, Pope Francis visited Pope Benedict XVI at the palace for lunch.