Cooking Class & Lunch on the Pope’s Organic Farm plus Visit of the Apostolic Palace and Gardens | Private

Situated in the Alban Hills, perched just above Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo offers a welcoming retreat for Romans looking to escape to the countryside. Since the sixteenth century, it has been home to the Pope’s summer residence. With the area’s natural bucolic beauty and stunning views over the cerulean volcanic waters of Lake Albano, you can quite see why.

Your day starts in Rome, where we’ve organised private transport to the Papal estate

Upon your arrival in Castel Gandolfo, we’ll take you straight inside the Papal Palace, home to an exhibition of curated artifacts and stories of the popes who resided here. Enjoy the stunning views over the lake and go behind the scenes visiting the museum, the Pope’s private quarters, offices, and even the Pope’s bedroom, learning all about the history of the palace and the people who have visited.

After your tour of the palace, we’ll pick you up in our golf cart or minivan and drive you through the meticulously kept grounds of the Pope’s summer residence. Your destination is the Pope’s 50-acre private farm – the location of your divine cooking experience.

The moment you step onto the Pope’s private farm, your culinary adventure begins.

Supplying the Vatican with all the ingredients for the Pope’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Pope’s farm is home to cows, free-range chickens, bees, and a sprawling vegetable garden. It also produces its own olive oil and dairy products consumed by the Pope himself.

Here, at our exclusive cooking school on the papal estate, you’ll meet your professional chef, who will greet you with an antipasti and prosecco reception. You’ll then dive straight into learning the traditional methods of making authentic fresh pasta and dessert by hand, using all the fresh ingredients from the Pope’s farm itself. Lunch is then served with the food you have prepared, making a perfect Italian feast paired with local wines.

Finish your day exploring the historic center of Castel Gandolfo

As you digest your delicious homemade lunch, we’ll take you on a slow, scenic drive through the landscaped Barberini Gardens. En route we’ll visit several sites including an ancient Roman amphitheater and imperial crypotporticus, built by the mad, bad, and dangerous-to-know emperor Domitian in the late first century AD.

Your day ends with some free time in the town center of Castel Gandolfo. We suggest finding a table in the piazza, ordering a final coffee or gelato (or both!) and taking a moment to savor the memories of this truly unforgettable experience before we transport you back to Rome.