Borghese Gardens and Gallery

During your stay in Rome, a visit to one of the world's most important art collections is a must: Galleria Borghese houses the works of illustrious artists admired throughout the world, such as Bernini, Caravaggio, Canova and Raphael. Gray Line I Love Rome will take you to discover this jewel in the heart of the Eternal City, in the company of our extraordinary guides to guarantee an unforgettable experience, in the close-up of the best of Italian art and culture. We will guide you through the Gallery's interior and exterior spaces, endowed with timeless elegance, refinement and grandiosity. The gallery's most important sculptures and paintings come from the collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1579 - 1633), patron and art collector, son of Ortensia Borghese, sister of Pope Paul V. The cardinal was a fervent admirer of all expressions of ancient, Renaissance and contemporary art and his strong ambition fostered the creation of sculptures and marble groups inspired by the canons of classical art. The portrait of Pauline Bonaparte Borghese, sculpted by Canova between 1805 and 1808, has been hosted by the Gallery since 1838: the emperor’s young sister is in the centre of the room and poses slightly reclined, with her torso lifted. Her right hand rests on the armrest of the Agrippina, while she clasps an apple in her left. The nude bust and the soft folds of the cloth covering the lower part of the princess' body make this work one of Bernini's masterpieces and one of the timeless icons of Neoclassical art. Bernini's works, including Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpine and The David, to name a few, are also undisputed protagonists of the Gallery's spaces and one cannot really remain indifferent to them. The museum's collection of paintings is equally remarkable and includes wonderful works by Caravaggio, Tiziano, Correggio and Raphael, all exhibited on the second floor of the building along with many others. In 1807, Camillo Borghese sold 154 statues, 160 busts, 170 bas-reliefs, 30 columns and various vases to Napoleon, forming the Borghese collection of the Musée Napoléon, which was to become the Louvre Museum a few years later. This attraction is one of the most popular in the city and the compulsory pre-booking means that very often there is no availability, but don't worry, Gray Line Rome has thought of everything! By purchasing this tour, we will include the skip-the-line entrance ticket and access will be guaranteed. This tour option also includes pick-up from your hotel: this way you'll reach the Galleria directly from your hotel in the city centre in a private van without any rush or stress! Once the guided tour is over, we suggest you spend some time at Villa Borghese, the large public garden that houses the Gallery: it will be pleasant and relaxing to stroll along the avenues of this magnificent park and reach the Pincio Terrace, once known as the Colle dei Giardini (Garden Hill), in just a few minutes. Take a deep breath and enjoy the spectacular view of Piazza del Popolo below, or of the Prati district. Stretch your eyes towards the horizon and you will catch a glimpse of St Peter's Dome, the Gianicolo terrace, the Quirinale hill, the Altare della Patria (Piazza Venezia) and the Campidoglio: the entire city of Rome will be at your feet!