Pope Leo to escape summer heat at Castel Gandolfo. The history of the villa, where the pontiffs holiday

Pope Leo XIV is set to resume a tradition that dates back to the 17th century when he heads out of Vatican City for a summer vacation. The Pontiff will be heading to Castel Gandolfo, the lakeside town about an hour south of Rome, on Sunday (July 6). The tradition was abandoned by Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, for the 12 years that he presided over the Vatican.

Pope Leo is set to stay at the summer retreat from July 6 to July 20, stated the Vatican. But what is this place?

What is Castel Gandolfo?

The town is nestled in the Alban Hills, approximately 25 kilometres southeast of Rome, overlooking the serene Lake Albano. The palace was built by Pope Urban VIII in 1624 and is a former Roman villa featuring vast Renaissance-style gardens that was adapted into a papal summer residence. The lake town has been owned by the Vatican since 1596. At 55 hectares (136 acres), it is bigger than Vatican City itself.

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According to the Vatican, Leo will move to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo from July 6 to July 20 for a period of rest. Although he will not stay at the palace, but another Vatican-owned property, reported news agency Reuters.

Though Leo’s vacation will largely be private, spent within a Vatican-owned building, he is expected to appear publicly at religious celebrations on July 13 and 20.

Another short stay has been planned around the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said.

Why did Pope Francis not visit the summer home?

The late Pope Francis, who died in April, deliberately avoided many of the traditional trappings and splendour of the papacy. One of them was choosing to stay at his humble Vatican residence over Castel Gandolfo for summer stays.

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So, during the years of his papacy, the tradition of travelling to the Castle Gandolfo was halted. Before him, both of his immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, spent time at Castel Gandolfo, interspersed with visits to the northern Italian Alps.

Benedict was especially fond of Castel Gandolfo, closing his papacy out there in 2013.

How have the people of Castel Gondalfo reacted?

The residents of the town are extremely excited about Pope’s visit, as many feel that it will boost local tourism and business.

Mayor Alberto De Angelis told news agency Reuters that residents were excited about the visit. “The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth,” he said. “Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift,” Stefano Carosi, the owner of a coffee shop on the town’s main square, said. “The pope has always been important here, because he attracts people.”

Francis had Castel Gandolfo’s papal palace turned into a museum and opened the gardens to visitors. According to Marina Rossi, owner of a local mosaic studio, tourist visits have increased beyond the summer papal audiences, with people now coming more frequently. “It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave,” she told Reuters. “Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year.”

Rossi believes Leo’s return offers the town an opportunity to attract even more tourists. “It’s an important moment,” she said. “I won’t hide my happiness.“As for what Leo might do during his vacation, Maurizio Carosi, brother of Stefano, had a suggestion, saying he’d tell the pope, “If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!”

What about Europe’s heatwave?

Europe is currently in the middle of a heatwave with temperatures having exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several places. So far, at least eight people have lost their lives due to the extreme heatwave gripping Europe, reported Reuters.

According to reports, two people have lost their lives in France while the weather department issued a red alert, the highest extreme heat warning across 16 regions in the nation, including Paris. Hot temperatures have also scorched the United Kingdom, which is reporting its second heatwave of the summer. Spain and France have also reported casualties as temperatures shoot up.

With inputs from agencies