Isabella B.
Yelp
When Pope Francis assumed office, he was not into living extravagantly, instead choosing more modest living arrangements for accommodation. In doing so he also eschewed living in the summer palace, opening both the palace and Barberini Gardens for tourists. Proceeds from ticket sales go towards the upkeep as the pope has effectively turned the site into a museum.
Even though Pope Francis has opened this place to the public, it is not guaranteed that his successor will keep up the tradition so should you want to visit this place I would do so while Francis is still the pope.
LOGISTICS
€11 for a standard ticket. Family packages available
+ €16 for a tour of the gardens via tram (must be bought onsite)
+ €8 for stroll (must be bought onsite)
A reduced rate of €7 for the palace can be achieved if you also bought tickets for the Vatican Museums or for the gardens.
From Rome, you can reach the Castel Gandolfo station via Roma San Pietro.
(nb: I got these prices off the Vatican Museums official website. In reality I took a now-defunct tour offered through Walks of Italy that combined this and Ostia Antica).
The exterior shots are beautiful. The town is situated on the Alban Hills and overlooks Lake Albano, a crater lake. Situated on a lake the usually sleepy town is where Romans go if they want a weekend to get away from the heat.
As for the palace my tour guide and I were probably the only people there that wasn't on some sort of pilgrimage. I saw lots of nuns in different colored clothes (maybe different orders?) in big groups. We were all grouped together when it came time for the tour.
There are three parts of the tour:
a. The portrait gallery with pictures of notable popes.
b. The palace tour. Mostly everything is accessible to the public, including the pope's bathroom, the golden bathroom and reception areas where the pope would host guests.
c. The gardens by tram. When I went you couldn't walk on the gardens but it's now possible if you arrive yourself.
Outside the palace there's some restaurants and cafes should you need to eat. Don't expect anything close to Rome in close to offerings. I believe some packages do offer lunch because the palace's garden is big enough to be able to feed everyone using vegetables exclusively from the garden.
If it weren't for the Walks tour I wouldn't have heard about Castel Gandolfo. I would count this as a "hidden gem" for the more secular traveler but certainly a worthwhile visit for the Catholic faithful.
