Vatican Museums and FS Italiane relaunch the Papal Villas train to Castel Gandolfo
The collaboration between the Vatican Museums and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane has been renewed for the 'Treno delle Ville Pontificie', which links Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo. This electric train operates every Saturday from March 18 to November 4, 2023, departing at 11:00 AM and reaching Albano Laziale, where shuttle services are available to the Pontifical Villas. Ticket prices are set at €41 for the train and villa entry, €44 for early access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and €55 for the Apostolic Palace museum areas. Passengers can return on the train at 5:30 PM. The villa complex spans 55 hectares and includes Villa del Moro, Villa Cybo, and Villa Barberini, associated with Popes Urban VIII and Clemente XIV.
Key facts
- Service runs every Saturday from March 18 to November 4, 2023
- Electric train departs Vatican station at 11:00 AM to Albano Laziale
- Shuttle buses connect Albano to the Pontifical Villas
- Ticket prices: €41 (train + villa), €44 (with Vatican Museums), €55 (plus Apostolic Palace)
- Return train leaves at 5:30 PM, journey time about one hour
- Villa complex covers 55 hectares and includes Villa del Moro, Villa Cybo, Villa Barberini
- Pope Urban VIII Barberini first summered at Castel Gandolfo in the 17th century
- Gardens incorporate ruins of Domitian's 1st-century AD palace
- Villa Barberini acquired after 1929 Lateran Pacts
- Belvedere offers panoramic view of Lake Albano
Entities
Artists
- Carlo Maderno
- Rabirio
Institutions
- Musei Vaticani
- Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane
- Fondazione FS Italiane
- Ville Pontificie di Castel Gandolfo
- Palazzo Apostolico di Castel Gandolfo
- Cappella Sistina
- Giardini Vaticani
Locations
- Vatican City
- Castel Gandolfo
- Albano Laziale
- Lake Albano
- Castelli Romani
- Rome
- Alba Longa
- Giardino Barberini
- Villa del Moro
- Villa Cybo
- Villa Barberini
- Albanum Domitiani