Borghese Gallery

About Borghese Gallery

The Borghese Gallery, Rome is located in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana, a 17th century villa that was commissioned by the Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who was the nephew of Pope Paul V. The Borghese family owned the property until 1902 at which point the Italian government purchased the property and then turned it into a public museum. The Borghese Gallery is home to one of the best collections of art in the world. The collection includes paintings, sculptures and antiques and due to the pieces on show, attracts visitors from around the world.

The Borghese Gallery is one of Rome’s most popular art galleries and also one of the busiest and to assist with that, our tickets come with a designated timeslot.

The Borghese Gallery hosts an incredible collection of works including ancient Roman pieces, Renaissance pieces as well as Baroque art. With master pieces on show from the likes of Caravaggio including 'Saint Jerome Writing', Raphael’s 'Deposition' and Titan’s 'Sacred and Profane Love'. 'David' and 'Apollo and Daphne' by Bernini, 'The Rape of Proserpina' along with Canova’s semi-nude 'Venus Victrix' a sculpture of Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, can also be found here.

The collection also includes an impressive collection of ancient mosaics, frescoes and decorative arts.

The collection was curated by the Borghese family, or ‘The House of Borghese’ as the family was known. A wealthy and noble family that moved to Rome in the 16^th century. They grew the collection to a point whereby it no longer fitted in their property which meant they had to move it and thus became the 'Galleria Borghese' which sits in Villa Borghese Park. Because of the location of the gallery it also has the added bonus of being surrounded by beautiful gardens which themselves attract the public and its common to visit the gallery and then go for a peaceful walk around the gardens after.

Useful Information About Borghese Gallery Rome

‍

Borghese Gallery Opening Hours

Monday: Closed | Tuesday 09:00 - 19:00 | Wednesday 09:00 - 19:00 | Thursday 09:00 - 19:00 | Thursday 09:00 - 19:00 | Friday 09:00 - 19:00 | Saturday 09:00 - 19:00 | Sunday 09:00 - 19:00

‍

How to get to Borghese Gallery

• Borghese Gallery is located in Villa Borghese Rome.
• The Borghese Gallery Address is: Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197, Roma, Italy.
• Bus Stops: Pinciana/Museo Borghese Stop followed by a short walk to the gallery. Galleria Borghese stop using the 116 bus.
• Train: You can get off at Piazza di Spagna or Barberini Metro Station and then walk to the gallery.

Borghese Gallery Fun Facts

1. The structure of the Borghese Gallery was built in the 17th century having been commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and is located in one of Rome's largest park's, called the Villa Borghese Gardens.
2. The Cardinal worked as private secretary for his Uncle (Pope Paul V) and he was able to make his fortune by collecting tax on behalf of the Pope which enabled him to build the incredible estate and indulge in his passion of art, which is how the Borghese Collection started.
3. Some of the Borghese Collection was actually moved to France in the early 19th century as one of the Borghese family (Don Camillo Filippo Ludovico Borghese) married Napoleon's sister, Pauline Bonaparte and some of those pieces now live at the Louvre.
4. The ceiling of the main room on the main floor was painted by Mariano Rossi and is incredible and depicts Marcus Furius Camillus Fighting Brennus and his Gauls, while Romulus Entreats Jupiter to Help Rome.