Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo

Better be on your best behavior, you're popping into the home that the Pope spent his summers in for centuries. The leader of the Catholic Church might not be around for your visit, but you can plug into your audio guide, tour the rooms in your own time, and discover the lifestyle of a succession of Popes over the last 400 years. You'll see paintings, relics, and liturgical vestments, plus historical highlights like the sedan chair of Pope Pius IX and the BMW used by Pope Wojtyla. The Apostolic Palace is a beautiful homage to both medieval and baroque architecture. The views of the town, the lush green gardens and the lake are amazing, too. Don't miss a walk through the greenery of Villa Barberini, the private garden of the Pope.

What's included

• Admission to the Apostolic Palace
• Audio guide (available in Italian, English, Spanish, German, French and Russian)

What's excluded

• Guided tour
• Skip the line access