Leo XIV is taking some well-deserved time off to kick back and relax after all the hubbub surrounding his election in May as the first North American Pope.
The newly pegged pontiff recently rode out the July heat in Castel Gandolfo, the traditional holiday residence of popes dating back to the 16th century. According to The Guardian, he’s slated to return in mid-August.
The sprawling complex and gardens of Castel Gandolfo, built on the ruins of an ancient Roman villa, is located about an hour south of Rome in the lakeside town of the same name.
According to Vatican News, the property was acquired by the Holy See in 1596 from a noble Roman family, and finally incorporated into its assets in 1604. It was Pope Urban VII who ordered the transformation into an apostolic summer digs, becoming the first pontiff in history to “vacay” there.
The tradition of popes taking breaks outside of blisteringly hot Rome endured until Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis (who famously shunned pomp and privilege) declined to use it, opting for humble “staycations” in his papal apartment in Rome.
As a result, Castel Gandolfo was opened to the public in 2016, allowing visitors to roam its Renaissance-era gardens and take a peek into some of the opulent rooms inside the estate.
The palace will continue to be a museum, with Leo spending his holiday in a renovated Villa Barberini — a relatively smaller estate next door, boasting views of Lake Albano, along with gardens, olive groves, orchards, and a paved stone walkway. Not bad.
If you want inspiration, here’s where past popes have gone to get away from it all.
Palazzi dei Papi, Orvieto, Viterbo and Perugia (13th-14th centuries)
The Umbrian town of Orvieto became a refuge for five popes — Urban IV (1261-1264); Gregory X (1271-1276); Martin IV (1281-1285); Nicholas IV (1288-1292) and Boniface VIII (1294-1303). The papal palace was housed in Palazzo Soliano adjacent to the cathedral, which today is home to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
In the town of Viterbo in Lazio, the Palazzo dei Papi served as a makeshift Vatican for 24 years. Built next to the cathedral out of peperino stone — an igneous rock typical of the province — the grand Gothic palazzo features a long staircase and a delicately carved loggia. Sporadically inhabited between 1257 and 1281, the papal quarters of Viterbo accommodated a total of nine popes.
Perugia, also in Umbria, had a strong connection with the papacy and often hosted popes seeking a haven from the political turmoil of Rome during the 13th and 14th centuries. Five popes were elected in Perugia: Honorius III, Clement IV, Honorius IV, Celestine V and Clement V. Originally inhabiting the rectory (canonica) of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the residence was later expanded and referred to as Palazzo del Papa.
Palais des Papes, Avignon, France (14th century)
Before the Holy See was based in Vatican City, Rome’s Lateran Palace served as the pope’s residence from the 4th century until 1309, when the papal court fled Rome and “set up house” in Avignon, France. Political instability and chaos in the Eternal City inspired Pope Clement V to hightail it out of town for a more welcoming France. From nearly a century, the Palace of the Popes was the seat of Western Christianity, hosting six papal conclaves during that time period.
An outstanding example of medieval architecture, the Palace of the Popes has been described as “the most well-fortified house in the world.” Boasting a reputation as Europe’s largest Gothic palace, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.
Lorenzago di Cadore (1987)
In 1987, John Paul II broke with the tradition to spend a week of his summer vacation in the cooler Dolomites in the northern region of Veneto. Staying only a short time in the little community of Lorenzago di Cadore (where the population is less than 1,000), John Paul loved it so much, he returned six more times during his pontificate.
Les Combes (1989-2004)
Another favorite destination of John Paul II was the little hamlet of Les Combes in the Valle d’Aosta (Aosta Valley) region. Near the border with France and sitting in the shadow of Mont Blanc, Les Combes has surrounding mountains that the pope enjoyed hiking. He returned another 10 times during his papacy. So appreciative were the townspeople, a small dedicated to the Holy Father’s visits was inaugurated. It displays a collection of objects, documents, and photographs of the Polish pontiff.
Bressanone (2008)
For about two weeks in late July and early August of 2008, Pope Benedict XVI spent his holiday at a seminary in the mountain town of Bressanone (also known as Brixen). Located in the German-speaking Trentino-Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy, the town may have attracted Benedict in part because his grandmother was from a village nearby.
