Piazza della Libertà

Piazza della Libertà is Castel Gandolfo's principal civic square. The Papal Palace, the church of San Tommaso da Villanova and the fountain associated with Bernini bring papal patronage into a compact urban setting.

Why it matters

The square connects the town's administration, religious life and history as a papal summer residence. Its buildings form an ensemble shaped by the transformation of the older settlement during the seventeenth century.

What to notice

The fountain establishes a central focus between the palace front and the church. San Tommaso's facade carries the heraldry of the Chigi family. More ordinary houses and the town hall maintain the square's civic character alongside the monumental architecture. The hilltop setting relates the ensemble to the volcanic landscape of Lake Albano.

Context and history

The papal palace replaced the Savelli castle during the building campaign of 1624–1626. Bernini's church followed later in the century. The presence of the papal residence gave the square a ceremonial role in addition to its local functions. Later changes in the use of the palace, including its museum role, added further chapters without removing the square's place at the centre of the town.