The nephew of Pope Paul V,
cardinal Scipio Borghese, clever politician and sophisticated intellectual, gathered by acquisitions and political pressures one of the most gorgeous collection of works of Italian and European art, spanning from the late Middle Age to the Baroque period. Even his contemporaries marveled, beguiled, pleasantly surprised and hiddenly jealous, at the sight of the riches and the ostentatiousness of the collection. The Borghese family continued the collection, adding other masterpieces. Some of the
most wordly known paintings of
Rapahel and
Tiziano,
Caravaggio and
Correggio, among many others, are displayed in these beautifully decorated rooms. Moreover, only here the onlooker can appreciate the details of a wide array of
Bernini’s glorious sculptures, from the dramatic yet graceful Apollo and Dapne to the voluptuous and arrogant Pluto and Proserpina. Also the XVIII century is represented by one of
Canova’s most appreciated works, and for
the Egyptian collection a special room was designed in the XVIII century. It became an architectural model for the “Egyptian” fashion that spread through the aristocratic homes in Rome at the time.
Once visited
the marvelous works of art, we may end the tour with a stroll through
the gardens of the Villa, which can be considered Rome's Central Park, with
beautiful meadows and promenades, extended on an area of more than 200 Acres. The most celebrated part of the Villa is the neoclassical site of
Piazza di Siena, where every spring the equestrian Show Jumping competition takes place.
Tickets: € 13,50
Length: 3 hours
Note: Security checks at the entrance. Reservations are required, since the number of visitors cannot surpass a given amount.
The museum and gardens are accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with walking disabilities.