Borghese Gallery Tickets Rome

The Borghese Gallery and Villa Borghese

The gallery was built in the early seventeenth century as a villa for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V and one of Rome's great art collectors. It stands in Villa Borghese, the large park at the edge of the historic centre, and it still feels like a private palace with frescoed ceilings, coloured marbles and rich decoration.

If you are searching for Borghese Gallery tickets or how to get to the Borghese Gallery, the usual way is to walk from Piazza di Spagna or Barberini through the park, which takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. Because entry is limited and timed, a Borghese Gallery guided tour is the easiest way to plan your visit, and you should arrive a little before your slot.

Bernini's sculptures: movement in marble

The ground floor is a showcase of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who was still in his twenties when he made several of his greatest works for Scipione. In Apollo and Daphne the nymph turns into a laurel tree as the god reaches for her, and the marble leaves and fingers look almost delicate enough to break.

The Rape of Proserpina, with Pluto's fingers pressing into the soft flesh of the goddess, and the dynamic figure of David show why Bernini defined the Baroque. A guide is especially useful here, because you can walk around each sculpture and notice details, such as the changing expressions, that are easy to miss.

Caravaggio, Canova and the paintings upstairs

The upper floor holds one of the world's best collections of paintings, including several by Caravaggio, such as Boy with a Basket of Fruit, the Sick Bacchus and David with the Head of Goliath. There are also works by Raphael, Titian, including Sacred and Profane Love, Rubens and Correggio.

On the ground floor too, Antonio Canova's reclining portrait of Napoleon's sister, Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, shows how neoclassical sculpture could be both elegant and daring. Is the Borghese Gallery worth visiting? For anyone interested in art, yes: the collection is exceptional and, unlike larger museums, is easy to take in during one visit.

Planning your visit: timing, bags and tips

The visit lasts about two hours, and the best time to visit the Borghese Gallery is early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when the light through the windows is soft. Borghese Gallery opening hours change by season and the gallery is usually closed on Mondays, so check your date in the booking panel.

Because entry is limited, arrive at the meeting point a little before your slot. Bags and large items must be left in the cloakroom, so travel light. Photography rules can be strict, and flash is not allowed. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and a walk in Villa Borghese park before or after the visit makes the day even more pleasant.