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The world's first postbox in Castel Gandolfo: a story that starts with half a baiocco
The world's first postbox is located in Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo, in the Castelli Romani area. The marble rectangular box, with a slot, is set into the wall between the Town Hall and the post office.
A postman who couldn't read
In 1820, mail addressed to Castel Gandolfo didn't make it to the town. It stopped in Albano Laziale, a few miles away. A courier would go and collect it there, and was paid half a baiocco (an old papal coin of little value) per letter. The problem, however, was that he could neither read nor write, so delivering the correspondence to the right recipients became quite a challenge.
Jacorossi's idea
Local councillor Antonio Jacorossi proposed to the priors of Castel Gandolfo the creation of the first postbox. On 23 November 1820, the Municipal Council approved the project. The original resolution is kept at the Historical Museum of Communication in Rome, in the EUR district.
Where to find it and what to look for
The original bronze plaque is a bit hard to read, with its dark, embossed lettering. But next to it is a commemorative plaque from 2020, with a QR code to learn more about the story on your phone. It is easy to reach from Castel Gandolfo railway station, just a few minutes' walk away.
