Coffee In Castel Gandolfo In The Steps Of The Pope

Having a coffee in Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope, can be a tranquil beginning to a day of papal history and museum touring.

Getting a chance to escape the heat, noise and chaos of Rome is an opportunity not to be missed. We recently had such an opportunity when we took the train to Castel Gandolfo. This is the summer residence of the Pope and a tranquil refuge that everyone should check out. 

In addition to the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the town is a collection of quaint little stores, coffee bars and restaurants that invite the weary traveler. In addition, this hill-top town is next to Lake Albano, which affords the visitor some amazing views, breezes and quietude.

We stopped by for a tour, but also enjoyed a couple coffees and a lunch aperitivo in some of the most amazing locations we have seen in Italy. It becomes obvious to even the most casual visitor why the Pope spends summers in Castel Gandolfo to recharge and prepare for the new challenges he will face.

What’s Beautiful About Castel Gandolfo?

The picturesque setting alongside Lake Albano and the beautiful town are two of the reasons that it is viewed as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Also having the support escape for the Pope doesn’t hurt either.

The rolling hills that border the Frascati wine region add to the tranquility of this hill-top town. The views are spectacular and the lake is inviting during the warmer months of the year.

What Is Castel Gandolfo Famous For?

Apart from the beauty of the region, the lake and the surrounding vineyards, the town is most famous as the summer residence of the Pope. The Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo anchors the town and is the top reason for a visit.

The main structure, the Papal Palace, has been the summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope for centuries,The main Apostolic Palace building has served as a museum since October 2016. We had a chance to tour the museum and the grounds as a part of our visit. 

Coffee Culture In Castel Gandolfo

This is a small and slow moving hill–top town and not a center for coffee culture. There are, however, a large selection of coffee bars that you can check out during your visit. We chose a couple with particularly nice views that were relaxed, friendly and fresh. Coffee integrates into local life as it does in endless other cities and towns in Italy. It is a part of your morning, later morning and after lunch and can get you through a long day of touring the Papal palace.

Famous Coffee Bars And Cafés In Castel Gandolfo

Once you reach the train station, I would strongly recommend taking the van from the train station to the Papal Palace. The cost is only 1€ and it will be the best money you’ll ever spend. The climb can be treacherous, so the van helps with not getting tired and keeping yourself safe.

Once at the Palace, a few steps away is the Piazza della Libertà, which is the “main drag” for this town. We quickly came upon a coffee bar called: Bar Carosi. It had outdoor seating so we grabbed a seat, ordered a couple cappuccini and pastries for €9. A little pricey, but we weren’t standing at the bar and those are the breaks. We enjoyed our delicious coffee, fresh pastries and pleasant weather, then it was off to the Palace.

When we reached the end of our tour, we noticed a sign, not far from the exit, for the Cafeteria inside the Palace. Even though we both had a bit more than enough coffee for one morning, we decided to check it out. The bar area was small, but the adjoining terrace was sweeping and delightful. Their coffee was illy, which was great because it had been awhile since the last time I enjoyed that coffee and it was a pleasant surprise that it still made me happy.

We sat outside enjoying the views of the lake and surrounding hills while sipping out cappuccini. It was a relaxing experience that I won’t soon forget. If you can only get one cup of coffee at the Palace, this is definitely the place to try it out!

Where Is Castel Gandolfo?

Driving is an option if you are trying to get to the Castel, but parking is definitely tricky once you reach the top of the hill. Getting to Castel Gandolfo by train can be both easy and complicated. There is a regional train that runs from Termini Station that costs only €2.10. Is it clean, convenient and brings you right into the town, but at the bottom of the hill.

Wrapping Up Coffee In Castel Gandolfo

More traditionally on the papal trail instead of the coffee trail of Italy, if you are looking for a celebration of coffee, culture and tradition, then Castel Gandolfo might not be on your itinerary. That doesn’t mean starting your day with a coffee in Castel Gandolfo doesn’t set up the day for successful touring of the Papal residency.