The Borghese Gallery is small, but it may be the most breathtaking museum in Rome. It was the villa of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a passionate collector of the early 17th century, and it still holds his treasures in rooms of marble and fresco, in the middle of the Villa Borghese park.
Bernini’s sculptures
The young Gian Lorenzo Bernini carved some of his greatest works for the cardinal. In Apollo and Daphne, the nymph turns into a laurel tree before your eyes; in the Rape of Proserpina, Pluto’s fingers seem to sink into marble flesh; his David is caught in the middle of the throw.
The paintings
- Several works by Caravaggio, including the *Boy with a Basket of Fruit*.
- Raphael’s *Deposition*.
- Titian’s *Sacred and Profane Love*.
Canova
Antonio Canova’s statue of Paolina Borghese, Napoleon’s sister, reclining as Venus, is one of the most famous sculptures of the 19th century.
How to visit
- Booking is required and entry is by timed slot: book well ahead, especially at weekends.
- The gallery is closed on Mondays.
- Bags must be left in the cloakroom.
Tips
Before or after your visit, walk in the Villa Borghese gardens to the Pincio terrace, which looks over Piazza del Popolo.
