Castel Gandolfo (Italian pronunciation: [kaˈstɛl ɡanˈdɔlfo], Latin: Castrum Gandulphi, colloquially Castello in the Castelli Romani dialects) is a small town or comune located approximately 15 miles southeast of Rome, Lazio, Italy. Occupying a height on the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo is perhaps best known as the summer residence and occasional vacation retreat for the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome. The town has a population of around 8,834 residents and has been voted as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy.[2]