Attractive convenience for Poles
The summer residence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo, located on the picturesque hills above Lake Albano, has gained a new attraction for visitors – an audio guide in Polish, which makes it easier for travelers from the country on the Vistula to visit the museum interiors of the Apostolic Palace. This is a response to the growing interest of tourists and pilgrims from Poland, who are visiting this historic place near Rome in increasing numbers.
Castel Gandolfo has been the summer residence of popes for centuries
The Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo served as the summer residence of popes for centuries. According to a tradition dating back to the 17th century, the successors of St. Peter rested here in the summer, away from the heat of the Italian capital. It was here that John Paul II often spent his holidays, and Benedict XVI even lived for several months after his abdication.
After the decision of Pope Francis, the Palace was transformed into a museum and opened to the general public, presenting, among others, papal chambers, offices and private apartments. Leo XIV returned to the habit of resting in Castel Gandolfo, but the residence itself remains open as a museum, and the pope spends his time in a nearby villa.
A guide with an emphasis on Polish topics
The interior of Castel Gandolfo will now be much easier to visit for Polish tourists. Especially since the new audio guide includes places unique to Polish guests. Among them, there is a chapel with frescoes by Jan Henryk Rosen and a painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa, known for its cult in Jasna Góra and associated with Polish religious history. The images show, among others: scenes of the Miracle on the Vistula and key figures in Polish history, which constitutes an additional narrative and emotional value for Polish visitors.