The Historical Archives is housed in one of the building in the park of Villa Montecucco in Castel Gandolfo, near the Apostolic Palace overlooking Lake Albano. Built in the second half of the 19th century by Cardinal Camillo di Pietro and bishop of Albano, it belonged until 1917 to Giulio Monteverde, senator of the reign and internationally renowned sculptor who used it as his summer residence.
The villa was sold in 1923 to Alberto Manzifè, Director of the Società Montecatini, who expanded it by adding the spectacular terrace overlooking the lake, among other things. The villa changed hands once again in 1943 when it was purchased by renowned Roman builder Ugo Calderai, before being occupied by the German army, who made the villa their general headquarters in 1944. The villa was reclaimed with the arrival of the Allied troops, at which point Calderai decided to sell it to the Pallottine fathers, who ran it continuously until 1970, when Eni purchased the property to turn it into its training centre.
Another building designed to house and display the historical archives now stands adjacent to the prestigious Villa Montecucco. Compact shelving, temperature- and humidity-monitoring systems, and special containers for storing various types of documents make this location provides the perfect place for long-term preservation. Computers, scanners and equipment for viewing photographs and slides are also available to researchers.
We have created a bright and spacious facility with large tables and equipment that allows users to photocopy our materials. The aim is to support researchers consulting and examining the archives. From a preservation perspective, we have chosen the most modern storage and monitoring systems for maps, films, photographs and everything else that makes up our heritage.
Particular attention is paid to film, and older film in particular, which is stored at a temperature of around 18° to maintain its integrity. The lighting system has also been designed in accordance with the appropriate preservation standards.
The room boasts direct natural light, workstations with PCs for examining inventories, large tables for consulting oversized materials, photocopiers, scanners and editing machines to allow users to view (and photocopy with prior permission) the documents required for their research.
Pines, plane trees, acacias, lime trees, cypresses, horse chestnuts, holm oaks, cedars, palms, magnolias, alders and small olive groves all forming part of the property’s extraordinary woodland heritage. The internal walkways, meanwhile, are adorned with a succession of shrub-like hedges incorporating various species, including oleander, cherry laurel, laurel, cheesewood and box. A little piece of paradise with spectacular views across Lake Albano.
Overlooking Lake Albano and located on the volcanic cone of Monte Cavo, Castel Gandolfo has been named one of the “most beautiful villages in Italy” thanks to its well-preserved and pedestrianised historic centre. It lies just over 20km from the capital, from which it is easily reached even by public transport.
