Piotr Kowalczuk
Billiard Room
It was created in the 18th century in a salon which, at the behest of Clement XIV, was decorated with frescoes by Giovanni Angeloni. They depict the Pope in moments of relaxation and rest, such as a meeting with the famous chef nicknamed “Seven Broths” or a horseback ride around the palace. In the center stood a billiard table, on which many popes played matches. In the memoirs of Massimo d’Azeglio, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia, historian and writer, there is a description of his match in Castel Gandolfo with Pius VII. Only Paul VI, in the second half of the 20th century, removed the table and changed the Billiard Room into a Breakfast Room.
Television Room
It was arranged in a salon where popes held private conversations, devoted themselves to reading or prayer. In Italy, television became a mass medium in the second half of the 1950s. It was then that the first television set was placed in the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo.
Music Room
It was created in a private salon during the pontificate of Paul VI. A radio receiver with a stereophonic turntable was placed there. It functions and stands there as an exhibit to this day. Naturally, the audio equipment was modernized with technological advancements. Benedict XVI, an accomplished pianist, placed his piano in this room, on which he regularly played while resting in Castel Gandolfo.
