"Castel Gandolfo" a Castel Gandolfo Travel Page by mccalpin

Castel Gandolfo is one of the Castelli Romani, one of the hill towns around Rome. It is situated on the edge of a volcanic lake, which makes for cooler weather than Rome and marvelous scenery.

Most tourists never make it to Castel Gandolfo, which is too bad - or maybe not, since even in July, you can walk the streets at night and be the only tourists in town!

The photo here is taken from just down the hill inside the crater. It's hard to tell but I think the dome in the center of the photo is a part of an observatory on the Papal Palace.

Volcanos have been an important part of Italian history. Recall the events that occurred with Mount Vesuvius in the area of Naples, and the current eruptions of Mt. Etna today in Sicily.

This volcano is now extinct, and the crater has filled with water.

Rome in the summer becomes quite warm. However, towns arround Rome in the hills are not only cooler, but the breezes off the water make Castel Gandolfo considerably more comfortable than Rome in August.

For this reason, the Pope traditionally comes to his palace here in Castel Gandolfo every year in late July and stays for about 6 weeks.