Learn about Cardinal Borghese’s vast art collection and the stories behind each piece on this guided tour of the Borghese Gallery and Gardens. Stroll along shady lanes among sculptures and tranquil fountains.

Cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned both the Villa Borghese itself and many of the great works still on display in its gallery. Works by Bernini, Caravaggio, and Titian remain in their original settings, as envisioned by the Cardinal, a fiercely determined collector.

Strictly-controlled entry to the Villa and Gallery can make booking difficult and complicated. This package lets you avoid the organizing and even skip the line to get in when you arrive.

During this fully-guided tour you’ll hear more about Cardinal Borghese’s quest to complete his collection, and the stories behind the artworks themselves, including Bernini’s “Apollo and Daphne”, Canova’s “Pauline Bonaparte”, Caravaggio’s “St. Jerome” and Raphael’s “The Deposition”.

Your guide will be an English speaker and an expert on the collection, and audio headsets ensure you’ll hear every word they say.

The tour also includes a visit to the Borghese Gardens: once the Cardinal’s private park, now a favorite spot for locals to relax among sculptures, plants, and water features, and get away from it all.

From the Pincio Terrace, you can appreciate another kind of work of art: the vista of Rome itself, from the Piazza del Popolo in the distance.

Last update: 03/01/2023

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