Galleria e Villa Borghese

Explore Villa Borghese by bike: discover Rome’s most beautiful park with a guided bike tour, ideal for families and friends! Vespa tour to Villa Borghese and Galleria Borghese: visit Rome in an authentic way and discover art and nature with an unforgettable tour! Discover Villa Borghese by tuk-tuk: a relaxing and eco-friendly adventure between the Borghese Gallery and the wonders of the park. Villa Borghese scooter tour: enjoy a unique experience, admiring the Borghese Gallery and the hidden secrets of the park!

What you need to know about Galleria and Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is one of Rome’s largest and most famous public parks, located in the heart of the city. In addition to being a green oasis of peace and relaxation, it is home to many cultural and artistic attractions, such as the Borghese Gallery, one of the city’s most prestigious museums, which displays works by great artists such as Caravaggio, Raphael, and Bernini. The park was originally designed in the 17th century by the Borghese family as a private garden for their villa. Today it offers a variety of gardens, fountains, statues and even a pond where you can rent a boat. Villa Borghese is also a meeting point for fans of sports and outdoor activities, with trails for jogging, cycling, and skating. In addition, the park is home to other important cultural institutions, such as the Bioparco, one of the oldest zoological gardens in Europe, and the Cinema dei Piccoli, considered the smallest cinema in the world. Villa Borghese is a vast park with many places of interest, attracting thousands of visitors each year for its beauty and cultural value.

Borghese Gallery: This art gallery houses one of the most valuable collections in the world, with works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian and Canova. Visits are limited in number, so advance reservations are recommended.

Pincio Terrace: Located in the southern part of the park, the Pincio Terrace offers a spectacular panoramic view of Rome, particularly of Piazza del Popolo. It is one of the most romantic spots in the city, especially at sunset.

Temple of Aesculapius: A small neoclassical-style temple dedicated to the god of medicine, Aesculapius, is located in the artificial pond of Villa Borghese. You can rent a small boat to explore the pond and admire the temple and the swans that inhabit this area up close.

Bioparco di Roma: Founded in 1911, it is one of the oldest zoos in Europe and today focuses on the conservation of endangered species. It is an ideal destination for families and nature lovers.

Cinema dei Piccoli: Also located within Villa Borghese is the Cinema dei Piccoli, the world’s smallest cinema specializing in children’s films.

Carlo Bilotti Museum: This free museum displays works of contemporary art, many donated by Carlo Bilotti. Among the artists on display are Giorgio de Chirico and Giacomo Manzù.

Casina di Raffaello: A beautiful children’s space offering workshops and creative activities, perfect for families visiting the park.

Borghese Gallery and its Masterpieces

The Borghese Gallery is one of Rome’s most famous museums and houses an extraordinary collection of artworks collected by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a great 17th-century patron and collector. Located inside Villa Borghese, the gallery is famous for its incredible collection of Renaissance and Baroque sculptures and paintings, with masterpieces by artists such as Caravaggio, Bernini, Raphael, and Canova. Here are some of the most famous works:

Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini: This sculpture depicts the dramatic moment when Daphne, pursued by Apollo, begins to transform into a tree to escape the god. It is a work of intense expressiveness and technical virtuosity, capturing the metamorphosis in marble with extraordinary delicacy.

Bernini’s Rape of Proserpine: This impressive sculpture depicts Pluto abducting Proserpine, with a realism that shows details of bodies and expressions, such as Pluto’s fingers sinking into Proserpine’s flesh. It is an impressive example of Bernini’s ability to make marble almost alive.

Paolina Borghese as Venus Vincitrice by Antonio Canova:– This sculpture depicts Paolina Borghese, Napoleon’s sister, as Venus Vincitrice, reclining on a sofa in an elegant and sensual pose. Canova succeeds in conveying a sense of softness in the marble, making the figure remarkably realistic.

St. Jerome and David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio: Caravaggio is well represented in the collection of the Galleria Borghese. In “Saint Jerome,” the saint is depicted with intense drama and striking chiaroscuro, while “David with the Head of Goliath” presents a young David with a reflective expression and strong emotional intensity.

Deposition Borghese by Raphael: This masterpiece by Raphael depicts the deposition of Christ from the cross in a balanced and harmonious style. The work is known for the elegance of the figures and the intensity of the feelings it conveys.

Titian’s Amor Sacro e Amor Profano: This enigmatic painting depicts two women, one clothed and one nude, symbolizing sacred and profane love respectively. It is a work rich in symbolism and detail, reflecting Titian’s mastery in depicting female beauty and allegorical concepts.

Danae and the Rain of Gold by Correggio: This work depicts Danae, gently welcoming the rain of gold sent by Zeus. It is one of the most sensual and refined paintings in the collection, with extraordinary skill in the use of light and delicacy of detail.

Curiosities

A Passionate (and Unscrupulous) Collector – Cardinal Scipione Borghese, founder of the collection, was famous for his obsessive passion for art. He was said to have used his ecclesiastical power to confiscate works and force artists to sell their work. He even had some artists imprisoned to force them to surrender their works.

The Secret of “Pauline Borg hese-The sculpture of Pauline Borghese as Venus Victrix by Canova, one of the most famous works in the collection, is celebrated for its sensual pose and refined details. Pauline, known for her easy-going nature, eagerly agreed to pose nude for the portrait. Apparently, the very couch she is lying on was designed with a mechanism that allowed the sculpture to be heated.

Caravaggio’s Self-Portrait – In the painting “David with the Head of Goliath,” Caravaggio used himself as a model to represent Goliath, while the young David is an idealized self-portrait of how he would have liked to see himself as a young man. The painting, made near the end of his life, perhaps reflects the artist’s inner torment.

Bernini and the Rapidity of Execution – Gian Lorenzo Bernini sculpted many of his works for the Borghese Gallery in a surprisingly short time. It is said that “Apollo and Daphne,” one of his most complex works, was completed in only three years, an incredible feat considering the complexity and precision of the work.

A Private Chapel in the Museum – Scipione Borghese had a private chapel built inside the villa, with a collection of relics. It was a sign of his devotion and a way to demonstrate his status, creating a unique fusion of faith and artistic passion.

The Mystery of Sacred Love and Profane Love-Titian’s painting “Sacred Love and Profane Love” has always sparked discussions about what it really represents. Some scholars believe that the two female figures represent the duality of love (carnal and spiritual), while others believe it may be a wedding portrait with complex symbolic meanings.

A Museum with Limited Access-The Borghese Gallery is one of the few museums in the world that strictly limits access to a small number of visitors per shift. Only 360 people can enter every two hours to ensure a quiet visit and preserve the integrity of the works.

“The Rape of Proserpine” and Extreme Realism – Bernini’s sculpture “The Rape of Proserpine” is famous for the detail of the marble depicting the flesh in an incredibly realistic way. Pluto’s fingers sinking into Proserpine’s thigh are so detailed that you can almost feel the tension in the skin, an extraordinary demonstration of Bernini’s skill.

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