On July 6, Pope Leo XIV revived a centuries-old tradition when he arrived in the sleepy Italian village of Castel Gandolfo for his summer vacation.
For over 400 years, Castel Gandolfo was a papal summer residence. Perched on the Alban Hills, it is home to just over 8,000 inhabitants and, since the 1600s, has transformed into a pilgrimage site every summer when the pope arrives for his vacation. However, that all changed when Pope Francis decided to forgo lavish vacations, leaving the papal palace, the village, and the people out of the spotlight for 12 years.
So, as Pope Leo makes a momentous return, click on to find out how Castel Gandolfo became a papal holiday spot in the first place, and what it's like to vacation as a pope.