Home & Family Facts and Notes

In some ways Rome is like any big city in the world because it is constantly on the go with outdoor activities for the citizens and visitors to the city. So when you visit Rome, the pace of seeing and enjoying such a busy metropolis can wear out even the most intrepid traveller. So to find that peace and quiet where you can still enjoy the best of Rome in a more tranquil setting, head to Villa Borghese.

The 148 acres of this tranquil setting is not the largest retreat of its kind but you will find museums there, along with a beautiful artificial lake and aviaries to enjoy as well. In the 16th century Cardinal Borghese set about to create a beautiful villa based on the geometric model of Versailles. The Cardinal even provided the initial sketch that was used to construct the villa that is at the heart of the compound.

An artificial lake, which contains a small Ionic temple was added towards the end of the 18th Century.

Cardinal Borghese’s love of birds is reflected in his aviaries at the site where he could keep and enjoy exotic peacocks, ostriches and other lovely species on the grounds where gazelles used to graze.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Villa Borghese was handed over to the city of Rome for a public park. Since then much has been done to improve the location, including the addition of a number of temples, many artistic fountains and many fine sculptures just as can be found in the city. When admiring the sculptures around the grounds, don’t be surprised if you find the original Tritons exactly like the ones you saw at the Fountain of the Moor in the Piazza Novona. These sculptures at Villa Borghese are the originals for that fountain. The ones you see in the Piazza are replicas that were made in the 19th century.

For 100 years the Villa Borghese has welcomed the public to enjoy the many delights it contains. There are numerous seasonable events you may come across on your visit, including horse jumping events in Siena Square. The beautiful Piazza di Siena amphitheater commonly is used for outdoor concerts which you can take in before touring the botanical gardens. And take time to admire the lovely Baroque 18th century arch called the ‘Arco di Settimio Severo’.

If you get a bit faint from hunger, not to worry, there is a small bar in the center of the Villa where you can find tasty and authentic Italian pasta or just sit back and recuperate your energies over a Campari. And when you are ready to move on, not far from the cafe are the pavilions that were shown at the 1911 Word Exposition.

But over the decades what has really become a draw for tourists and locals alike are the excellent museums that are on the grounds of the park.

One reason for the popularity is you can find some sculptures by Bernini on display at The Museo e Galleria Borghese and you can compare those here to the many fountains in the city of Rome that Bernini designed and built. A notable piece that is worth the stop is a Bernini sculpture entitled Abduction of Proserpina by Pluto. But this gallery is home to a number of famous Renaissance painters, including Raphael and Titian.

The original summer residence for Pope Julius II that he used in 1553 can be found in the Villa Giulia. The name of that villa, the Museo Nazionale Etrusco lets us know that a tour of the museum will let us see some fascinating Etruscan art works that were found in excavations in the hills that surround Rome.

To gain entrance to the Villa Borghese, simply travel to the north end of the Spanish Steps. The actual entrances can be found above the Piazza del Poppolo and the Porta Pinciana but near the end of the Via Veneto. The Villa Borghese is an ideal spot to save for that time in your trip when you need a place of quiet to enjoy some peace and respite from a very active day in the city. But be sure you allocate several hours when you are there to see and experience all that the Villa has to offer.

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