This can be a visitor submit by Carol M. Cram of Artsy Traveler. Many due to her for sharing her ideas and insights in regards to the Borghese Gallery Tour she took in Rome.
I’ve visited the Borghese Gallery 3 times over time—twice alone and as soon as on a guided tour. And right here’s my suggestion: taking a tour is totally value the additional price.
Due to the keenness and perception of our information, Giovanna Santo from Metropolis Walkers Excursions, I lastly perceive why the Borghese Gallery is usually known as Rome’s finest small museum. Her tales and her ardour for the artwork introduced centuries of artwork and historical past vividly to life.
By signing up for Giovanna’s tour, I used to be in a position to go to the gallery on the morning I needed to go, and achieve a a lot deeper appreciation for the artwork than I’d have gotten alone.
A Jewel in Rome’s Borghese Gardens
Located within the elegant Villa Borghese and surrounded by the delightfully lush and tranquil Borghese Gardens, the Galleria Borghese is a peaceable escape from Rome’s crowds.
The Gallery is a must-see if you’re a fan of Baroque artwork. I confess that I’m not a giant Baroque fan, being extra of a medieval and trendy gal, however due to Giovanna’s considerate commentary, I discovered to understand Baroque artwork, notably within the work of Bernini and Caravaggio. Works by each are highlights of the gathering.
⤷ Traveler Tip: Mix your go to to the Borghese Gallery with a stroll by way of the Borghese Gardens. The shaded walkways and fountains are a few of Rome’s loveliest.
A Temporary Historical past of the Borghese Gallery
The Borghese Gallery homes a part of the distinctive assortment began by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, within the early seventeenth century.
In its day, the villa was a villa suburbana—a lavish retreat for Rome’s elite on what was then the outskirts of Rome.
A century later, in 1808, Prince Camillo Borghese, who was Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother-in-law, was compelled to promote many sculptures to Napoleon. That’s why masterpieces such because the Borghese Gladiator at the moment are within the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Fortunately, loads of treasures stay, together with Canova’s statue of Josephine Bonaparte and one of the crucial spectacular Baroque sculpture collections on the planet.
⤷ Learn extra: The Louvre Museum Highlights
Visiting the Borghese Gallery: Tickets & Excursions
As a result of entry is strictly restricted to timed two-hour periods, tickets typically promote out days and even weeks upfront.
On my most up-to-date go to, I checked the official Borghese Gallery web site per week earlier than I used to be coming to Rome and found to my shock that the morning periods on the day I needed to go to had been already totally booked.
The one approach in? Taking a guided tour.
⤷ Professional Tip: Guided excursions embrace skip-the-line entry and commentary that provides context and storytelling you’d miss in any other case.
Highlights of the Borghese Gallery
The Borghese Gallery’s assortment spans two full flooring with room after room of masterpieces. And don’t overlook to lookup. A few of the ceilings, many painted throughout the Baroque period, are actually breathtaking with unimaginable trompe-l’œil results.
On this submit, I give attention to sculptures by Bernini and the gladiator mosaics on the primary ground after which the Caravaggios and different masterpieces on the second ground.
⤷ Learn extra: My Journey Diary – 4 Days in Rome
Bernini’s Sculptural Genius
The tour begins with Bernini’s The Rape of Persephone—a sculpture so dynamic it appears to breathe. I bear in mind being astounded by this sculpture throughout my first go to to the Borghese Gallery once I was eighteen. Bernini’s capability to deliver chilly marble to life actually is astonishing.
Giovanna guided us across the piece, mentioning the realism in Pluto’s fingers urgent into Persephone’s thigh and the best way Bernini was in a position to seize motion and emotion in marble.
Giovanna’s commentary is simple to grasp and interactive. She retains the group engaged with questions and factors out fascinating particulars.
One other superior Bernini sculpture that Giovanna explains is Apollo and Daphne (take a look at the duvet photograph). Giovanna relates the story of the parable and factors out the power and delicacy of the sculpture. A few of the marble leaves on Daphne’s arms are nearly clear.
Bernini’s sculpture of David can be outstanding. Take a look at the focus on David’s face and the stress in David’s foot simply earlier than he lets the rock fly from his swing.
The Gladiator Mosaics
I used to be notably drawn to the traditional mosaics of gladiators and hunters put in on the ground of one of many first ground rooms.
The mosaics date from Roman occasions and had been found on the Borghese property at Torrenova within the early nineteenth century. The 5 panels are vivid, detailed, disturbingly violent, and remarkably preserved.
Work on the Borghese Gallery
Upstairs, the main target shifts to work by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian amongst many others. Whereas my power was starting to flag after nearly ninety minutes of the two-hour tour spent on the primary ground, I rapidly revived as Giovanna escorted us across the varied rooms.
⤷ Learn extra: Exploring Rome with the Urbs App
Caravaggio: Grasp of Mild
First cease was the surprisingly small room containing 4 of Caravaggio’s masterpieces. The room was empty by the point we reached it so I used to be in a position to admire the work and hearken to Giovanna accompanied solely by the folks on the small group tour.
Some would say, with justification, that the work by Caravaggio alone are value a go to to the Borghese Gallery. Caravaggio’s revolutionary use of sunshine and realism modified the course of Western artwork.
Giovanna defined how Caravaggio painted actual folks—wrinkled, barefoot, and imperfect—infusing sacred scenes with humanity and grit.
Listed here are my two favourites: Madonna and Youngster with Saint Anne and Boy with a Basket of Fruit.
Madonna and Youngster with Saint Anne
Giovanna tells us that the Church fathers didn’t need something to do with this portray by Caravaggio. The figures had been far too lifelike and human to be holy.
These days, we respect how Caravaggio makes use of dramatic lighting to create a way of depth.
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Giovanna factors out the hyper-realism of the fruits spilling out of the boy’s basket. Mixed with the great thing about the younger boy and the starkness of the inside setting, the portray is usually characterised as representing the fleeting nature of youth and wonder.
⤷ Learn extra: 10 Greatest Artwork Exhibitions in European Museums in Autumn & Winter 2025
Titian
One of the vital well-known work within the Borghese Gallery is the big portray by Titian (Tiziano in Italian) known as Sacred and Profane Love. The portray depicts two girls—one clothed and the opposite bare—symbolising sacred love and profane (or passionate) love. They’re positioned on both aspect of a sarcophagus topped by a mischievous cupid.
There’s a balanced perfection in regards to the portray that I discover interesting. Additionally, the precise which means of all of the symbols and their relationships to like stays tantalisingly elusive.
Raphael
The Borghese Gallery contains a number of work by Raphael. This one, known as Portrait of Younger Girl with Unicorn, was restored within the Thirties after having been closely overpainted to depict Saint Catherine holding the wheel she was tortured on.
Initially, Raphael painted the girl (whose actual identification continues to be not confirmed) holding a small canine, after which modified it to a unicorn, an emblem of purity and virginity. Apparently, solely a virgin may tame a unicorn to sit down passively in her arms.
The direct gaze of the girl and the sumptuousness of her gown make this portray compelling.
Fontana Lavinia
I’m happy to see this portray by Fontana Lavinia, one of many few (if not solely) feminine painters included within the assortment.
⤷ Learn extra: 16 Inspiring Feminine Artists From Historical past
Why a Guided Tour Is Price It
You may definitely discover the Borghese Gallery by yourself, however a guided tour transforms the expertise.
A information who has a ardour for artwork historical past gives significant historic context, shares the tales behind the myths, and talks in regards to the personalities and intentions of the artists.
With restricted time slots and a lot to see, a tour helps you take in extra in much less time.
Sensible Info for visiting Borghese Gallery
- Location: Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, Rome
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed Mondays)
- Go to Period: 2-hour timed entry slots
- Tickets: Advance reservations required
- Web site: Official Galleria Borghese Web site
Remaining Ideas: Borghese Gallery or the Vatican?
In case you have restricted time in Rome and need to keep away from extreme crowds, I like to recommend selecting a go to to the Borghese Gallery over battling the crowds on the Vatican Museum. Sure, the Vatican’s assortment is mind-blowing, however the customer expertise is steadily a sizzling, tiring, and mobbed ordeal.
⤷ Learn extra: Vatican Journey Information – What to See in Vatican Metropolis
Save your power and decrease your stress ranges by as a substitute visiting the Borghese Gallery and having fun with a smaller, extra intimate artwork expertise. You’ll nonetheless see loads of masterpieces. Then, after your go to, you’ll be able to stroll across the Borghese Gardens and revel in a latte or an aperitif in one of many cafes scattered across the gardens.
And belief me on this one: take the tour. You’ll by no means have a look at Bernini or Caravaggio the identical approach once more.
Carol Cram is the creator of 5 award-winning novels, host of The Artwork In Fiction Podcast on which she interviews novelists impressed by the humanities, and the creator of Artsy Traveler, a journey weblog devoted to unbiased travellers who love arts and tradition. She lives on Bowen Island close to Vancouver, Canada, along with her husband, west coast painter Gregg Simpson.
