where: Piazza Scipione Borghese, Parco della Villa Borghese
getting there: metro - Linea A Flaminio or Spagna
open: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-19:00, closed Mondays, New Years Day and Christmas Day
visits to the Galleria Borghese are by reservation only — online or telephone +39 06 32810 to make a booking for the two hour admission
In 1903 the villa and gardens were bought by the city of Rome from the Borghese family and opened to the public. The gardens are the second largest in Rome and here you will find shady spots, picnic areas, cafes, lakes, temples and cool fountains away from the centre of Rome.
In 1605 the Borghese family had come into power with the elevation of Cardinal Camillo Borghese to Pope Paul V, and family members received wealth and benefits with his election to the papal throne.
In 1607 favourite nephew and secretary to the pope, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, designed and commissioned the building of a villa to house his large collection of art and sculptures.
Part of his collection was 107 paintings confiscated from Giuseppe Cesari for non payment of a tax bill.
The Cardinal was such a ruthless collector that in 1608 he had Raphael's Deposition removed from the church of San Francesco in Perugia and taken to Rome for his gallery and Domenichino imprisoned when he refused to deliver to the Cardinal a painting of Diana commissioned by another cardinal.
Today Galleria Borghese holds an amazing sculpture and art collection which includes Gianlorenzo Bernini's statues of David (1623-1624), Apollo and Daphne (1622-1625), Pluto and Proserpina (1621-1622), Aeneas and Anchises (1618-1620) and Truth (1645-1652).
Caravaggio's Madonna of the Palafrenieri, Saint Jerome, il Bacchino Malato, Boy with a Basket of fruit, David with the Head of Goliath and Saint John the Baptist.
Raphael's The Deposition, Lady with the Unicorn, Portrait of a Man.
Titian's Sacred and Profane Love, Venus Blindfolding Cupid, The Scourging of Christ.
Artists in Galleria Borghese
Raphael
Titian
Paul Brill
Canova
Lavinia Fontana
Rubens
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