Rome Private Walking Tours

Borghese Museum & Park

 Tour Information Schedule

 Tour highlights

Cultural visit of the Borghese Museum  and Picture Gallery  - Stroll around the Villa Borghese and Pincio Parks - Panoramic view of Rome - People Square - Via del Babuino - Spanish Square - Barcaccia Fountain - Spanish Steps - Column of Immaculate - Via dei Condotti.

 

 Tour information

Tour Code & Name: RW/06 - Borghese Museum & Park

Duration: 3 hours approximately

Meeting Point: in the central hall of the Museo Borghese, near the cashier

Departure Time: according to the reserved time slot

Operating days: Tuesday to Sunday. Closed all Mondays, January 1 and December 25.

Handicapped Visitors: itinerary feasible with wheelchair

Transportation: entirely walking tour

Entrance Fees: Borghese Museum € 6.50 + reservation 2.00 € per person. Not included

We will reserve your tickets beforehand.

Languages availability: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and  Italian. Other languages on demand.

Booking: tours should be booked at least 15 days prior to your scheduled arrival. Anyhow you may always send us an e-mail at any time and we will make all the efforts to meet your requirements.

 

 

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 Detailed itinerary description

Conducted by a licensed tour guide, perform this itinerary on foot.

The Casino Borghese was completed in 1615 by Giovanni Vasanzio (the Flemish Jan Van Santen), who continued the work started by Flaminio Ponzio, to whom Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese had commissioned the building in 1613.

The artistic collection, started by Card. Borghese and enhanced by prince Marcantonio Borghese, was diminished by Napoleon, who ordered to send many precious works to the Louvre. Since 1902 the building and the artistic collections belong to the Italian State.

The visit starts from the inferior apartment: 

- In the large central hall, in the floor have been inserted five roman mosaics of 3rd c. A.D. found in an estate of the Borghese in Terranova. They represent gladiator's fights and wild animals' hunts. Emperor Hadrian's and emperor Antoninus Pius' marble colossal heads are noticeable.

- In Hall I, in the center, the marble statue of Victress Venus by Antonio Canova in which was portrayed Pauline Borghese, Napoleon's sister and prince Camillo Borghese's wife. A masterpiece of Neoclassical style.

- In Hall II, in the center, the marble statue of David, a youth masterpiece by Gianlorenzo Bernini. Dynamic and impressively realistic masterpiece. 

- In Hall III, in the center, Apollo and Daphne by Bernini; it represents the dramatic nymph's metamorphosis to laurel.

- In the Emperors' Hall, see eighteen 17th century porphyry and alabaster busts of emperors. In the center, the Rape of Proserpine by Bernini, who collaborated with his father Pietro. On a table is a miniature bronze copy by sculptor Antonio Susini of the Toro Farnese, which original roman group is in the Archeological Museum of Naples.

- In Hall V, decorated in the floor by a roman mosaic with fishing scene, the Sleeping Hermaphrodite, a copy of the famous Hellenistic original.

- In Hall VI, the marble sculpture group of Eneas and Anchises by Pietro Bernini.

- In Hall VII, decorated by Egyptian patterns, find alabaster and marble amphorae, granite cups, alabaster sphinxes and a Girl with peplum, original 5th century B.C. marble statue of Peloponnesian style.

- In Hall VIII, Dancing Satyr, copy from Lysippus bronze original of the 4th century B.C. In this hall have been displayed all Caravaggio's magnificent paintings: Palafrenieri Madonna, Young sick Bacchus, Young man with a basket of flowers, David with Goliath's head and St. Jerome.

Return to the Emperors Hall to walk up to the first floor where is the Picture Gallery.

- In the entrance we see the painting of Casino Borghese perspective front.

- In Hall IX, by Raphael The Deposition, Portrait of a man, Portrait of a young lady with lyocorne; by Sandro Botticelli Madonna with Infant Jesus, little St. John and Angels. By Perugino Madonna with Infant Jesus. By Pinturicchio Crucifix with St. Jerome and St. Christopher; by Piero di Cosimo Madonna with Infant Jesus, little St. John and music playing Angels.

- In Hall X, by Sodoma Pietà and the Holy Family; by Andrea Del Sarto Madonna with Infant Jesus and little St. John; by Albert Dürer Portrait of a man; by Luca Cranach Venus and Cupid.

- In Hall XI, by Girolamo Savoldo  Tobias and the Angel; by Lorenzo Lotto Holy Conversation and A self-portrait; by Jacopo Palma the Elder Madonna with Infant Jesus, Saints and a devoted lady.

- In Hall XII, by Domenichino The Sybil; by Pompeo Batoni Madonna with Infant Jesus.

- In Hall XX, by Titian Sacred Love and profane Love, St. Dominique, Venus who blindfolds Cupid, Flagellated Christ; by Antonello da Messina Portrait of a man; by Veronese The Sermon of St. John the Baptist and The Sermon of St. Anthony to the fishes; by Giorgione Singer with flute and Passionate singer.

Leaving the Museum cross Villa Borghese and Pincio Parks to reach Piazzale Napoleone I (Napoleon I Square), where, from a terrace enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Rome.

Go down to People Square (Piazza del Popolo), in the center of which in 1589 Pope Sixtus V ordered the erection of the Egyptian obelisk dated 13th c. B.C., which previously was, since 10 B.C., in the center of Circus Maximus. 

Two hemicycles are at the sides of the Piazza del Popolo, designed in 1800-1823 by architect G. Valadier, who created the beautiful terracing of the Pincio Park.

A monumental gate closes the square on the northern side while on the opposite side there are two almost twin churches of 17th century: St. Mary in Montesanto and St. Mary of Miracles.

Walking along Via del Babuino, glance through the windows of important antiquarian shops.

At the end of Via del Babuino, reach the Spanish Square (Piazza di Spagna). In front of it are the famous Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) well known as one of the most characteristic sights. At the beginning of spring the stairs are decorated by a tapestry of white, rose and red azaleas.

Spanish Square is decorated in the center by Bernini's Fountain of La Barcaccia. The Spanish Embassy to the Holy See gives the name to the square and in front of the embassy is the Column of the Immaculate. St. Mary's statue above on the 8^th December is surrounded by roses offered by roman firemen (we see garlands in the right arm).

Starting from the Spanish Square, stroll in Via dei Condotti, to marvel at the appealing windows of elegant and expensive shops: jewelry (at Cartier and Bulgari), silk foulards (at Gucci), ladies' fashion (at Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Giorgio Armani), etc., etc. That's why Via dei Condotti is called 'heaven for ladies but hell for gentlemen'. 

 

 

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