It has a rich scientific tradition that began in 1576, when Pope Gregory XIII ordered the construction of a 73-meter tower designed for, among other things, astronomical observations. The Tower of the Winds, which still stands today, is also called the Gregorian Tower or the Gregorian Observatory. Based on observations of the meridian located there, the Pope decided to reform the calendar (Gregorian calendar). In 1933, the seat of the Vatican Observatory became Castel Gandolfo.
