Castel Gandolfo
The Emperor Constantine (306-337), who had chased out the turbulent legionaries from Parthia together with their families, conferred to the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, today the cathedral of Albano, the “possessio Tiberii Caesaris”, which was the area comprising the Domitian villa.
Apart from documents concerning inheritance or assessment matters, there are no further historical records regarding this area until the 12th century. What is recorded, however, is the continuous ransacking of marble and works of over the years, which became systematic in the 16th century, when precious marbles were removed to embellish the cathedral at Orvieto.
Around 1200, the castle of the Gandolfi family of Genoa (which gives its name to the town today) was built on the hill in the area, perhaps on the very ruins of ancient Albalonga. This stronghold, with its square shaped fortress, was built on the hill’s summit with high crenellated walls and a small courtyard. Surrounded by a mighty citadel which made it practically impregnable, it later became the property of the Savelli family who, despite difficult times, held on to it for roughly three centuries.
It was only in July 1596, under the pontificate of Clement VIII Aldobrandini (1592-1605), that the Apostolic Chamber took possession of Castel Gandolfo and Rocca Priora. The seizure from the Savelli family – which had failed to repay a debt of 150,000 ecus – was accomplished through a Papal Bull that handed the property over to the “Congregazione dei Baroni”. Later on the Savelli family managed to pay back part of that debt. They regained Rocca Priora but not Castel Gandolfo, which was declared patrimony of the Holy See and thus permanently incorporated by a consistorial decree dated May 27 1604 as part of the temporal domain of the Church.
Years later, at the request of the community of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Paul V Borghese (1605-1621), met the inhabitants’ request for water and restored the aqueduct that once channelled the waters of the Malafitto springs, referred to today as Palazzolo. This same Pope also tried to improve living conditions in the area by reclaiming the marsh land around Lake Turno, as is recorded on a marble plaque in front of the Papal Palace.
The first pope to use the palace as a summer residence was Urban VIII Barberini (1623-1649). Already as a cardinal he enjoyed spending the summer months in Castel Gandolfo and first went there as pope in the spring of 1626, once the enlargement and restoration work on the palace was completed. The architect he employed for this project was Carlo Maderno along with his assistants, Bartolomeo Bracciolo and Domenico Castelli. At this same time, the plan for the palace garden (Giardino del Moro), which was of modest proportions, was put into effect. The garden is in place today with its paths still marked by rows of myrtle hedges. Also at this time a Florentine, Simone Lagi, was summoned to decorate the private chapel, the small, adjacent oratory and the sacristy with frescos. Finally, Urban VIII added two charming tree-lined avenues, known as “Galleria di sopra” and “Galleria di sotto”, which skirt the “Villa Barberini”, connecting Castel Gandolfo to Albano.
Pope Alexander VII Chigi (1655-1667) completed work on the Pontifical Palace, building the façade which extends out on to the square, as well as the wing extending towards the sea, with its great gallery design of Bernini.