Explore the Castello del Gallo and the Giardini di Orazio in Mandela, a place where nature, history, and art harmoniously blend. An inspiration for the poet Horace and a stop on the Grand Tour, they offer breathtaking panoramas and a contemplative atmosphere.

Discover the Castello del Gallo, a monumental complex with Roman and medieval origins, which has hosted artists and intellectuals. Learn about its strategic position along the commercial and military routes between Rome and the Adriatic, and its control of 60% of Rome's drinking water, which increased its importance. Hear about its location on the route to Subiaco, a centre of spirituality with the abbeys founded by Saint Benedict.

In the Middle Ages, the Orsini family fortified the Aniene valley with a tower and an armoury. In the 17th century, the Nuñes-Sanchez family transformed the castle into a stately residence, frequented by figures such as Johann Winkelmann and Goethe. In the 19th century, Julie Bonaparte and Marquis Alessandro del Gallo di Roccagiovine, patrons of the arts, hosted a renowned international literary salon, welcoming figures like Franz Liszt and Gustave Eiffel.

Explore the Italian Formal Garden (Giardino Formale all'italiana), established in the 17th century, a Paradise Garden with intersecting axes and geometric hedges, which utilises Roman and medieval cisterns for irrigation. Admire the Belvedere, which offers a spectacular panoramic view, immortalised in Hackert's vedute.

See the Romantic Gardens (Giardini romantici), enriched in the 19th century by Julie Bonaparte and Alessandro del Gallo, which include a French-style grove, inspired by the drawings of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. This wood, with its colourful flora and cool microclimate, offers a pleasant retreat.

Visit the English-style garden (giardino all'inglese), in the heart of the landscape surrounding the castle, which embodies the ideal of harmony between nature and art, inspired by the painters Lorrain and Poussin. Jakob Philipp Hackert found inspiration here for his “Ideallandschaft,” ideal visions of landscapes that reflected balance and harmony. The paths crossing the area respect the original landscape, preserving the charm celebrated by Horace in his verses. This vision provided the aesthetic model for English-style parks in Europe, enhancing the spontaneous beauty of the place.

See the baroque church, dedicated to San Vincenzo Ferrer, designed by the architect Girolamo Theodoli. It houses frescoes by artists from the Accademia di San Luca, including Giovanni Odazzi and Michelangelo Cerruti. Inside, there is one of the first statues of the Virgin after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, a Black Madonna of Loreto, and a painting of San Domenico by Albert Besnard. Below the floor, a crypt hosts the tombs of the Nuñes-Sanchez, del Gallo families, and Prince Oreste Braschi.