THE PAPAL PALACE

In the charming little town of Castel Gandolfo is to be found the summer residence of the popes. In the 12th century the family of the Gandolfi Dukes had built, in a position dominating the lake, a castle that then passed into the possession of the Savelli family and after various events, it was later sold to Pope Clemente VIII Aldobrandini (1592-1605) who had it incorporated. Into the property of the Holy See. The actual palace was realised by Pontiff Urbano VIII (1623-1644), in the world Maffeo Barberini, who enlarged the castle on the designs of Maderno and who transferred there every year with his court. Alessandro VII Chigi (1655-1667) added the great staircase conceived by Bernini and also the Loggia. The complex from then or became the papal palace and from 1934 the Specola Vaticana, has been housed inside, which is an important astronomical observatory. Within the Papal Villa, amongst the monuments and artistic gardens, the sumptuous remains of the villa Emperor Domiziano are visible.