Steam rail trip links papal summer palace to St Peter's

The 1915 Steam Engine Train

  CASTEL GANDOLFO — The Holy See on Saturday inaugurated a special Vatican train service from St Peter's station to Pope Francis' summer palace at Castel Gandolfo, which for centuries has been the favoured destination for Pontiffs during the hot summer months. 

 

  The 78-year-old Argentinian Roman Catholic leader, sometimes deemed “the people’s pope” by the media, has always insisted that he does not need holidays, and has instead increasingly opened up the residence in the Alban Hills to the public, an opportunity which one veteran journalist in the Holy See press corps said he “has been awaiting for years”.

 “This is the will of Pope Francis” said Antonio Paolucci, the director of the Vatican Museums.

 

  On Friday September 11, Castel Gandolfo was opened up to approximately 100 officials, journalists and cameramen for an inaugural visit. Approaching the 1915 steam train at the Vatican train station, it resembled both the one from E. Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children and also from Harry Potter. The scores of officials, journalists and cameramen were greeted with a magical sight - a 1915 steam train with a plume of grey and white smoke escaping from its roof. 

 

  Internally, it was equally magnificent, with wooden carriages decorated with red-fabric seats. 

 

  Luigi Cantamessa, director of the Ferrovia foundation, which owns the historic train, said the new run will be the first regular train service between the Vatican and Castel Gandolfo. Previously, trains have only transported the Popes on one-off occasions, or for special events.

 

  The train transported the Vatican officials and correspondents from the Vatican City Train Station adorned in white marble to the Papal Palace, which was located approximately 20 miles (30km) south-east of Rome.

 

  On arrival at Castel Gandolfo, the guests were escorted to the Apostolic Palace, where a new museum has been opened, the Galleria dei Ritratti dei Pontefici

 

  The museum of five rooms features a selection of Papal portraits, including those from the Borghese and Medici families, Papal attire, such as ornate pontifical slippers, and even a chronology of the Popes, including their place of rest, from the first Pope Peter, to the current Francis, who is “felicemente regnante” (“happily reigning”).

 

 A balcony offers incredible views of Lake Albano that glistens below the palace in a volcanic crater, a favourite spot for swimmers and water sport enthusiasts, and the rolling countrysides that encircle the Palace. 

 

 To end the day, the guests were treated to a light lunch of food that was all taken from the Pope's farms, including mountains of mozzarella, plates of freshly-carved meats, and trays of pasta. 

 

  The journey by train can be booked through the Vatican Museums website www.museivaticani.va, but do take note that the use of the steam train was a one-off, and instead, tourists will be travelling on a more modern Italian State Rail Train from the pope's railway station. 

 

  Tickets, including visits to the Vatican Museums and Gardens, cost 40 euros each.

 

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Personalities of the Papal Late Court in the Museum
View from the Museum balcony