With the exceptional opening of the Barberini Garden, the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo allow the general public. Conducted in a multilingual guided tour, visitors will have privileged access to botanical and architectural wonders of the papal residence now known as "the second Vatican."
Info & Booking
The Vatican opens to the public the Gardens of Castel Gandolfo. From March 1, 2014, visitors can admire the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo and the Barberini Garden - with the Rose Garden, the Herbs Roads, the Nymphaea Riad, the Oaks Square and the Belvedere Garden - in a guided tour by authorized guides of the State of the Vatican City.
- Available from Monday to Friday at 8:30am and 11:30am; Saturdays also at 10:30.
- Duration: 90 minutes.
- Languages: English and Italian.
- Meeting point: in front of the main entrance of the Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo.
- Mandatory Reservations.
- Additions to the number of people book not allowed at the moment of the visit.
IMPORTANT: The Vatican requires the name and birth date of all participants of the group, please enter their names in specific field in the order form, once you have added the reservation to your shopping cart.
PLEASE NOTE: Vatican confirms the visit around two months before the date, so reservation guarantees the insertion into the waiting list. Credit card charge is made the business day after the reservation request.
The reservation allows you to enter at confirmed date and time, only at time confirmed on the voucher; delays on reservations are not allowed. It is advised to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before time indicated in the confirmation voucher. After the payment is confirmed, you will receive an e-mail with the confirmation of the booking, the voucher containing the reservation code and tour information. You are asked to print off the voucher so as to present it on the day of the tour. The reservation will be checked by means of the bar code present on the voucher. You will have to show the Voucher you got by email together with a valid identification document.
PLEASE NOTICE: Confirmed time is not always the same time you requested; museum automatically confirms the closest available time on the same date if requested time is sold out. Tickets will be confirmed upon availability of museum. Please note time confirmed can be ANY TIME during opening hours.
Rules for visitors:
- Small backpacks are allowed
- It is allowed to introduce only plastic bottles
- It is allowed to take pictures without the flash
- Pets not allowed
- It is not allowed to consume food during the visit
- It is forbidden to collect flowers, plants and herbs
- Access is restricted to individuals with proper attire (sleeveless shirts, shorts and mini-skirts banned)
- The guided tour remains confirmed in the case of adverse weather conditions
- Visitors may be subject to security checks
- The itinerary is subject to change for unforeseen activities of the Holy See and the State of the Vatican City
The garden is currently not accessible to people in wheelchairs or with mobility problems.
Wardrobe is currently not available.
Reservations can be made until 4 days before the visit.
Save time in ordering! Add into your basket all the museum tickets you want, then fill the form and send the request.
Before making your reservation, please, read the Ordering Informations
IMPORTANT NOTICE: After succesfully completing a reservation, you will receive two e- mails: the copy of your order (immediately after submitting your order) and the confirmation mail (two business days after). In order to receive them, please make sure you insert your e-mail address correctly and check that your anti-spam filter or antivirus are not blocking mails from our address [email protected]. Special attention for AOL mailbox users.
Cancellation policy: tickets CANNOT be canceled and they are NOT refundable.
How to get there:
Pontifical Villas - Garden Barberini
Strada Provinciale 71/b
Via Carlo Rosselli in front of Piazzale Urbano VIII
Castel Gandolfo (Roma)
- By Bus: Subway Line A, direction Anagnina. Get off at Anagnina. From the Bus Terminal COTRAL, take bus line Rome - Castel Gandolfo. Get off at Castel Gandolfo and follow the signs towards the town center (10 minutes walking).
- By Train: Termini railway Station, line Rome - Albano. Get off at Castel Gandolfo and follow the signs to the town center (15 minutes walking).
- By car: Highway 7 (Via Appia Nuova) from Rome, exit and follow the signs to Castel Gandolfo, where there are various free and paying parkings. Depending on the chosen car parking, follow the signs to the town center (5 to 15 minutes walking). The site does not have a parking.
Rules of conduct
Dress Code: shorts and miniskirts, sleeveless or short tops are not allowed (no bare arms or bare legs). All kinds of bags (handbag, shoulder bag, backpack, suitcase and bum bag included) are not allowed into the Basilica. You can deposit them for free before your entrance at the Ateneo San Basso, next to the Basilica. The Ateneo Ban Basso is located in the Calle San Basso, which is just off the Piazzetta dei Leoni to the left of the Basilica, as you stand in front of the facade. We invite you to minimize the number of bags and backpacks to avoid cluttering the deposit, and to bring with you your wallet and/or other valuables. Please speak quietly and protect the silence. Earbuds should be used for explanations. Reservations may be canceled at any time for reasons of force majeure, such as floods (Acqua Alta), religious events, or official and state visits. In these cases, your reservation remains valid for the whole day so you can make the visit at the closest available time. Photos and filming are not permitted.
Includes
Ticket with "Skip-the-Line" reservation
Before You Book
PLEASE NOTE: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive two email. The first email contains your order summary (this one you receive immediately after placing your order), the second email confirms your successful payment (one business day after placing the order). In order to receive these two emails, please make sure that you enter your email address correctly and check that antispam or antivirus filters do not block emails from our [email protected] address. Users of AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net need to pay special attention to this, please. Vouchers will also be available, one business day after the request, at your dashboard.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The time you select on the order form is your preferred time. The closest available time, which can be anytime during opening hours on the selected date, will be automatically confirmed if your preferred time is no longer available.
RULES OF CONDUCT
Dress Code: shorts and miniskirts, sleeveless or short tops are not allowed (no bare arms or bare legs). All kinds of bags (handbag, shoulder bag, backpack, suitcase and bum bag included) are not allowed into the Basilica. You can deposit them for free before your entrance at the Ateneo San Basso, next to the Basilica. The Ateneo Ban Basso is located in the Calle San Basso, which is just off the Piazzetta dei Leoni to the left of the Basilica, as you stand in front of the facade. We invite you to minimize the number of bags and backpacks to avoid cluttering the deposit, and to bring with you your wallet and/or other valuables. Please speak quietly and protect the silence. Earbuds should be used for explanations. Reservations may be canceled at any time for reasons of force majeure, such as floods (Acqua Alta), religious events, or official and state visits. In these cases, your reservation remains valid for the whole day so you can make the visit at the closest available time. Photos and filming are not permitted.
Intro
In yet another inclusive move, Pope Francis decided to throw open the gates of the Barberini Gardens at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo on March 1, 2014, and make them accessible to all. Join this extraordinary guided tour lead by guides authorized by the State of the Vatican City.
Cancellation Policy
Once the visit is confirmed, you can not cancel or modify.
Guided Visit of Barberini Gardens at Castel Gandolfo
In yet another inclusive move, Pope Francis decided to throw open the gates of the Barberini Gardens at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo on March 1, 2014, and make them accessible to all. Enjoy this special privilege and visit the botanical and architectural wonders of the papal residence known as "the second Vatican," a secret and beautiful place overlooking the lake of Castel Gandolfo, where the splendor and glory of art and nature coexist in admirable balance.
Located in the verdant Alban Hills just south of Rome, the complex of Castel Gandolfo includes the papal palace, a 62-acre farm, the remains of a Roman villa, and the splendid Barberini Gardens.
Your itinerary starts from the Barberini Gardens, the least known. You'll be introduced to the archaeological and natural context of extraordinary beauty - from the Magnolia Garden to the Alley of the Roses, from the Alley of the Herbs to that of the Nymphaea, from the Ilex square to the Belvedere Garden.
In Roman times, the Villa of the Emperor Domitian stood in the Villa Barberini area, overlooking the lake. You'll have the opportunity to stand among the ruins of the Imperial Theater and discover the grand and romantic ruin of the cryptoporticus (a covered gallery), immortalized in a capriccio drawing by Giovanni Battista Piranesi.
Your visit culminates facing the Square Courtyard or the Belvedere Garden, from where you'll enjoy a view over the entire Lazio region, extending over the sea to the distant horizon.