Palazzo Pontificio
Palazzo Pontificio
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4.0
218 reviews
Excellent
100
Very good
69
Average
28
Poor
9
Terrible
12
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Mark3500
Nottinghamshire, UK71 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This is a very interesting palace. The interiors, especially in the state rooms, are fabulous. It is amazing to be able to see inside this place and to see where others have had an audience with the pope, where popes have slept and recuperated and also worked. We were whizzed around the state apartments by a guide in about 10 minutes. He collected us from the museum on the lower floor and then rapidly conducted us through the state rooms. It would perhaps have been better to be able to spend a moment or two longer taking in the surroundings. The museum floor is ok, but could be better arranged. There are some papal regalia, and a number of portraits (including some excellent ones of the 3 most recent popes). A little more context would have been helpful. Many of the portraits appear currently to be in restoration. The vehicles used by the most recent popes are displayed in the courtyard but appear to have been abandoned to decay with mostly flat tyres. Overall very interesting but rather leaves you wanting more.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brontolo2018
Abruzzo, Italy5,541 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Former summer residence of the Popes can be visited with a paid entrance ticket. Beautiful views of Lake Albano passing through a not particularly exhilarating garden. During the Second World War, many families took refuge there and about forty children were born on the papal bed. Exciting to visit the library, the studios, the living rooms and the papal bed. Many paintings, objects of clothing, watches and tapestries. The papal story is long but in two hours something is reviewed, something else is learned.
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Written 13 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edwelsh
North Canton, OH7,282 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
When Pope Francis decided he did not want to relax in the summer residence, the town of Castel Gandolfo lobbied to open it as a museum. We, the public, are the winners. A short drive from Rome, overlooking a beautiful volcanic lake, this palace is breathtaking. Architecture, art and history make it a special visit.
Written 19 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chiara d
11 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
The partly accompanied but not guided visit includes a tour of a small Italian garden that is not particularly well cared for, without flower beds, with box trees in poor condition. We go inside where there is an interesting exhibition on the Allied bombings of 1944 on the papal estate which welcomed up to 12,000 refugees from the surrounding area, who in vain hoped to be spared from the clashes between the Anglo-Americans and the Germans.
On the first floor, the parish halls have been modernized with a neon effect and host the portraits of almost all the popes from the beginning of the 16th century to the present day. The audio guide tells his life, in do-gooder style: not a word on the accusations made against Galileo or on Pius XII's awareness of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi-fascists or on the massacres caused by the missions during the 17th century in the Americas.
On the second floor you walk through the rooms of the pontiff's apartment, it's a shame that there are no explanations, even if everything seems very modest, perhaps too modest considering the magnificent Vatican collections.
On the first floor, the parish halls have been modernized with a neon effect and host the portraits of almost all the popes from the beginning of the 16th century to the present day. The audio guide tells his life, in do-gooder style: not a word on the accusations made against Galileo or on Pius XII's awareness of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazi-fascists or on the massacres caused by the missions during the 17th century in the Americas.
On the second floor you walk through the rooms of the pontiff's apartment, it's a shame that there are no explanations, even if everything seems very modest, perhaps too modest considering the magnificent Vatican collections.
Written 29 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fede M
Monteriggioni, Italy908 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
The museum is spread over two floors. On the ground floor we have portraits of all the popes who stayed at Castel Gandolfo and some of the clothing they wore, while on the first floor there are private apartments. The Palace is completely accessible thanks to one of the first elevators built in the early 1900s. There is also the possibility to go out on a terrace overlooking Lake Albano and from which you can enjoy a beautiful view.
Automatically translated
Written 2 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lorenzoravida
Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Italy158 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Interesting visit, in the palace there are important historical artifacts including the original cars of Pope John Paul II. Since Pope Benedict does not want to come on holiday on Lake Albano, we could also visit the private apartment of the pontiffs. The visit is made under the supervision of a guard very helpful in answering various questions also in English. Recently reopened to the public also the secret garden, which is accessed by taking a staircase.
Automatically translated
Written 15 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnieTravels
Canada186 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
If you’ve seen a lot of castles and you’re simply visiting another castle, this one is underwhelming and not worth going to. For castle fans, it’s a 0 out of 5. However, if you’re wanting to experience the papal summer home, then it’s a 5 out of 5. It’s a one hour visit, and there’s not much to see in the medieval town. A two hour visit will suffice.
Written 21 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Venus234
32 contributions
Jul 2019
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.
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.
Written 17 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kate08
ireland246 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
I enjoyed our visit and found the audio guide very good. The history of each Pope was informative and interesting. We got to visit the living quarters and the views of the lake were stunning. I thought it was a nice relaxed way to spend some time away from Rome. The town is nice and we did some shopping and had a lovely lunch before getting the train back to Rome.
Written 19 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack H
Bonita Springs, FL374 contributions
Oct 2019
This was an amazing place to visit. Such a quaint little village with so much history. And the Lake was just beatifull.
Written 11 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
All'interno c'è un'ascensore per i piani superiori? Sono presenti dei gabinetti?
Written 1 May 2023
Non so se c'e l'ascensore. I bagni sono all'ingresso
Written 13 May 2023
can you take a taxi from thre train station in gandolfo to the castel? or do you have to walk
Written 27 March 2022
Yes, you do. Visit the Vatican Museums website for additional information. You can take a train there and make it an enjoyable day.
Written 22 July 2018
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