The Villa Borghese in Rome and its gardens are one of the most beautiful parks in Europe. It consists of a set of parks, gardens, buildings, sculptures and other works of art within the city of Rome itself.
The Villa Borghese project dates back to 1633, as part of the work on the residence of Cardinal Scipio Borghese, adored nephew of Pope Paul V. The word Villa at the time designated the residence of wealthy people.
The complex – unique among the grand patrician villas of the city, whose parks have all been subject to subdivision, as well as rarely registered villas – was purchased by the Italian state in 1901 and transferred to the municipality of Rome in 1903 to be permanently opened to the public, just as he began the subdivision of the neighboring Villa Ludovisi on whose lands he was rising the same name neighborhood. The villa was bought for 3 million lira time (equivalent to about 10 million euros in progress), and officially named “Town Park Umberto I Borghese already. “The Romans keep calling Villa Borghese.
The park has been open to the public since 1902, it was partly transformed into a garden of English inspiration during the 19th century.
It is the fourth public park in Rome (80 hectares), after Caffarella Valley, Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada and it extends largely over the Pinciano district and a small part of the Campus Martius district, divided by Aurelian Walls.
The core of the seal was already owned by Borghese in 1580, on the site whose position has also been identified for Gardens of Lucullus (or lavish Horti).
The estate was expanded with a series of purchases and acquisitions by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew Pope Paul V and future patron Bernini, with the intention of creating a “villa of delights” and the largest garden built in ancient Rome. . in 1606 the construction of the buildings was entrusted by the architects Cardinal Flaminio Ponzio and, after the death of his predecessor, to Giovanni Vasanzio (Jan van Santen); the architects were joined by the gardener Domenico Savini of Montepulciano intervention and also other artists, such as Peter and Bernini. The villa was completed in 1.
Cardinal Scipio Borghese was a great art lover and collector. He was passionate about all expressions of culture. This is how the Villa Borghese Museum was created.
The Gallery is not just a museum or a collection. It is something much stronger than that. It is a unique example in the world… a place that has an extraordinary charm.
When Cardinal Scipio Borghese had it built, the villa was then a country residence.
Scipio was a man of power and sometimes unscrupulous but it cannot be denied that he was a man of taste.
He was not a discoverer but a talent connoisseur. Just think of Caravaggio. The Borghese Gallery houses the world’s largest collection of works by Caravaggio. From the latter’s artistic exodus to Rome, Cardinal Borghese immediately recognized his incredible talent. He understood that he had to do then with one of the great painters of the world. He made sure to acquire the maximum of the works of Caravaggio by obtaining them by violence or by resorting to deplorable methods.
Scipio also discovers Le Bernin (Lorenzo Bernini) when he was only 9 or 10 years old. This great sculptor and architect who had a very important role in Rome in the art of the 17th century.
The Borghese Gallery houses some of Bernini’s greatest works: “Aeneas and Anchises”, “The Rape of Proserpina”, “The David”, “Apollo and Daphne”. Other sculptures that speak, that vibrate and that amaze. Works of absolute beauty and purity.
A collection that has been enriched over time with the arrival of other great masterpieces.
Until the arrival of Pauline Borghese (Paolina Borghese), Antonio Canova contributed to the splendor of the Villa Borghese with one of the most famous works in the world: the portrait of Paolina Bonaparte (Paolina Borghese) representing “La Vénus Victrix ”. This is the last great masterpiece to be added to the previous one. We are in 1807.
The Borghese Gallery is a work of art that houses many others. It is also a particularity that has made it famous throughout the world.
My opinion on the visit:
The Villa Borghese can be admired and understood. She allows herself to be deciphered. The Gallery is fascinating. It is neither a pedantic nor intimidating place. On the contrary, it is a place where you have a great time thanks to a variety of surprising works.
The Borghese Gallery is located in the park of the same name, it is in the city center of Rome a short distance from Via Veneto.
The Villa Borghese Museum houses and presents various collections of sculptures and works of art dating from the 15th to the 19th century.
You can admire masterpieces from the collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1579-1633), nephew of Pope Paul V – there are paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Antonello da Messina, and Giovanni Bellini and sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Canova. The works are exhibited in the 20 rooms decorated with frescoes which, together with the portico and the entrance hall, constitute the spaces of the Museum open to the public. More than 260 paintings are kept in the reserves of the Galleria Borghese, located above the floor of the Pinacoteca and arranged as a photo gallery. The reserves can be visited by reserving a time.
For security reasons related to the structure of the building, a maximum of 360 people at a time are admitted to the Museum for visits lasting two hours, after which they must leave.
FULL PRICE € 13.00
REDUCED 18-25 years € 2.00
(EU citizens and citizens of third countries with reciprocity conditions. Ticket prices may increase during temporary exhibitions.)
MANDATORY BOOKING FEE € 2.00 The ticket can be booked online
Metro:
Buses and trams:
The monuments that make up the Villa Borghese Park:
https://boowiki.info/art/villa-borghese/villa-borghese-2.html#Edifici
