# Castel Gandolfo

> comune in Lazio, Italy

**Wikidata**: [Q242105](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242105)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castel_Gandolfo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/castel-gandolfo

## Summary
Castel Gandolfo is a comune (municipality) located in the Lazio region of Italy, specifically within the Metropolitan City of Rome. It is recognized as a member of the association "The most beautiful villages in Italy" and serves as the site for the Vatican Observatory and the Collegiata di San Tommaso.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Comune in Lazio, Italy.
- **Administrative Location:** Formerly part of the Province of Rome (inception October 15, 1870); currently part of the Metropolitan City of Rome (inception January 1, 2015).
- **Coordinates:** 41.746944444444445° N, 12.651944444444444° E.
- **Population:** Recorded as 9,005, 8,922, and 8,564.
- **Official Website:** http://www.comune.castelgandolfo.rm.it
- **Notable Landmarks:** Vatican Observatory (inception 1891), Collegiata di San Tommaso (inception 1658), Castel Gandolfo railway halt, and Santo Spirito.
- **Associations:** Member of "The most beautiful villages in Italy" (inception 2001).
- **Events:** Associated with rowing at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- **National Context:** Located in Italy, a country with a 2023 population of 58,850,717 and a nominal GDP of $2,010,431,598,465 (2022).
- **Digital Presence:** Wikipedia sitelink count of 79; Wikidata ID Q38 (for Italy).

## FAQs
**Where is Castel Gandolfo located?**
Castel Gandolfo is situated in the Lazio region of Italy, within the Metropolitan City of Rome.

**What is the population of Castel Gandolfo?**
The population has been recorded at 9,005, 8,922, and 8,564 in various counts.

**What significant landmarks are found in Castel Gandolfo?**
The town is home to the Vatican Observatory, established in 1891, and the Collegiata di San Tommaso church, built in 1658.

**Is Castel Gandolfo part of a specific association?**
Yes, it is a member of "The most beautiful villages in Italy," an association of small Italian towns of historical interest established in 2001.

**What country is Castel Gandolfo in?**
It is in Italy, a sovereign state and parliamentary republic in Southern Europe with a capital in Rome.

## Why It Matters
Castel Gandolfo holds significance as a member of "The most beautiful villages in Italy," highlighting its historical and aesthetic value within the Lazio region. Its role as the host of the Vatican Observatory connects the municipality to scientific research and astronomical history dating back to the late 19th century. Additionally, the presence of the Collegiata di San Tommaso and its association with the 1960 Summer Olympics rowing events underscore its cultural and sporting relevance. As a comune within the Metropolitan City of Rome, it contributes to the administrative and demographic fabric of the Italian capital's surrounding area.

## Notable For
- **Vatican Observatory:** Hosting the observatory since its inception in 1891.
- **Historic Architecture:** Featuring the Collegiata di San Tommaso, a church building originating from 1658.
- **Aesthetic Recognition:** Inclusion in "The most beautiful villages in Italy" association.
- **Olympic Connection:** Association with rowing events during the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- **Transport Links:** Possessing a dedicated railway halt.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Castel Gandolfo is located at coordinates 41.746944444444445° N and 12.651944444444444° E. It is a comune situated in the Lazio region of Italy. Administratively, it was formerly part of the Province of Rome, which was established on October 15, 1870, and is now part of the Metropolitan City of Rome, which came into existence on January 1, 2015. Italy, the sovereign state encompassing Castel Gandolfo, is located in Southern Europe and covers an area of 302,068 square kilometers. The country is characterized by its boot-shaped geography, extending into the Mediterranean Sea, and is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, while also completely enclaving San Marino and Vatican City. Italy's highest point is Mont Blanc (4,808.72 meters), and its lowest point is Contane (-3.44 meters). The country is divided into 20 administrative regions, including Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmont, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Trentino-South Tyrol, Umbria, Aosta Valley, and Veneto. It is surrounded by the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Ligurian seas.

### Administrative and Political Context
The modern Italian state, of which Castel Gandolfo is a part, traces its origins to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861. The current Italian Republic was established on June 18, 1946, following a constitutional referendum. The capital of Italy is Rome. Castel Gandolfo itself contains historical sites such as the Collegiata di San Tommaso, a church building with an inception date of 1658. The town is also home to the Vatican Observatory, which was established in 1891. The political structure of Italy is a parliamentary republic and a unitary state. The current President of Italy is Sergio Mattarella (since February 3, 2015), and the current Prime Minister is Giorgia Meloni (since October 22, 2022). The country's constitution serves as the main regulatory text.

### Economy and Infrastructure
Italy operates a mixed economy with a nominal GDP of $2,010,431,598,465 (2022). The currency used in Castel Gandolfo, as in the rest of Italy, is the Euro, which replaced the Italian Lira on January 1, 2002. The country's VAT rate is 22%, and the median income is $20,085. Italy is a member of the Eurozone and the European Economic Area. Infrastructure in the region includes the Castel Gandolfo railway halt. The electrical system operates at 230 volts and 50 Hz, using Europlug and Type L plugs. The country drives on the right side of the road, while railway traffic operates on the left. The official website of Castel Gandolfo is http://www.comune.castelgandolfo.rm.it. Emergency numbers in Italy include 112 (general), 113 (police), 115 (fire), and 118 (medical).

### Demographics and Society
The population of Castel Gandolfo has been recorded as 9,005, 8,922, and 8,564. The broader population of Italy is 58,850,717 as of 2023. The country's population is composed of approximately 28.7 million males and 30.2 million females (2022 data). The life expectancy is 83 years, and the total fertility rate is 1.2 (2020). The Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.895 (2021), and the Gini coefficient is 35.2 (2020). The official language is Italian, though numerous regional languages such as Sardinian, Friulian, Ladin, German, French, and others are recognized. The age of majority is 18, and compulsory education lasts from age 6 to 16.

### Culture and Landmarks
Castel Gandolfo is a member of "The most beautiful villages in Italy" (I Borghi più belli d'Italia), an association established in 2001 to promote small Italian towns of historical interest. The town is associated with rowing at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Italy's national anthem is "Il Canto degli Italiani," and the patron saints are Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena. The country is renowned for its cultural heritage, holding the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally. Public holidays in Italy include New Year's Day, Epiphany, Easter Monday, Anniversary of the Liberation of Italy, International Workers' Day, Festa della Repubblica, Ferragosto, All Saints' Day, Christmas, Saint Stephen's Day, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

### International Relations and Memberships
Italy is a founding member of the European Union and a key participant in NATO, the United Nations (since 1955), the G7, and the G20. It is also a member of the Schengen Area, the OECD, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund. Italy maintains diplomatic relations with a vast array of countries, including Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States. The country's international codes include ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: IT, alpha-3: ITA, and the top-level domain .it.

### Media and Digital Presence
Castel Gandolfo has a Wikipedia sitelink count of 79. The broader digital presence of Italy includes a subreddit named "italy" and an official website at https://www.italia.it/. The country is represented in various databases with IDs such as Wikidata Q38, Freebase /m/03rjj, and MusicBrainz area ID c6500277-9a3d-349b-bf30-41afdbf42add. Social media handles include "Italy" on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The telephone country code is +39, and the aircraft registration prefix is "I". The license plate code is "I".

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://www.poste.it/cerca/index.html#/risultati-cerca-cap/CASTEL%20GANDOLFO)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
8. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
9. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
10. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
11. Quora
12. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
13. Seismic classification in Italy
14. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)