Chickens are housed in rows of little houses complete with tiled scenes of poultry life above their doors.The 50-acre Vatican farm in Castel Gandolfo.The working farm at the papal summer residence produces the dairy; meat and vegetables for the pope and his staff. Here we can see the free-range hens housed in a majolica-decorated chicken coop; the ostriches; turkeys; donkeys;rabbits ; calfs and cows that feed the pope and his staff at the Vatican. From the long series of greenhouses at the top of the sloping property to the modern mechanized cowshed at the bottom; the papal farm on a warm day is bustling with activity. There are teams pruning olive trees. In the vegetable garden; the earth is being turned over; ready for planting. The steps linking the long; narrow terraces of the vegetable garden are dotted with huge terra-cotta urns; and chickens are housed in rows of little houses complete with tiled scenes of poultry life above their doors. Yet the atmosphere here is more efficiency and productivity than symbolic play-farm. The enterprise's annual production is valued at 250;000 Euros and makes a significant contribution to the papal residence's running costs. Pope Pius XI had the farm built between 1929 and 1934; and it still operates according to the agricultural methods of the time: It's not an organic farm; but works with natural fertilizers and of course; the manure from the animals goes back into the soil. Synthetic chemicals are used only when strictly necessary. Eight people currently tend to the animals and vegetable patch where potatoes; zucchini; tomatoes and other produce are grown. The farm provides fresh produce like milk; yogurt; mozzarella; butter; fresh cheeser. The farm's produce certainly goes directly to the papal household in the Vatican and the rest goes to the Vatican supermarket; where employees of the Holy See can purchase it. The property at Castel Gandolfo is the pontiff's private retreat; and it's a rare privilege to be allowed inside. Employees here; 30 or so; on the farm and in the gardens; are cagey about giving away anything about their boss...Castel Gandolfo; Italy. 2015.