In Rome, you can find one of the largest private art collections in the world. The unique collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese is housed in the Galleria Borghese museum, which is on the family’s estate in the center of Rome.
Galleria Borghese is situated in the magnificent Villa Borghese Pinciana, which was specially built in 1613 by the family to house their art collection. The villa consists of twenty rooms spread over two floors, filled with antiques, sculptures, and paintings. Everything you find in Galleria Borghese was once collected and acquired by the powerful Borghese family, but since 1901, the collection has been owned by the Italian government.
The Galleria Borghese museum in the Villa Borghese park has been one of the most visited museums in Rome for years. To manage the large influx of visitors, only a limited number of visitors are allowed per time slot. This ensures that it is never too crowded inside, allowing you to view all the artworks comfortably. However, this also means that tickets are often sold out well in advance, so it is advisable to book your tickets for Galleria Borghese online on this website.
Collectie van Galleria Borghese
The collection of Galleria Borghese is immense and, along with the collection of the Vatican Museums, is considered one of the most important art collections in the world. Among the collection, you will find well-known works primarily from the Renaissance, including the sculptures ‘Apollo and Daphne’ by Bernini and paintings by Caravaggio, Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael Sanzio. Additionally, there are statues of Alexander the Great, Meleager, and Dionysus.
The most famous painting in the collection is undoubtedly Raphael’s Deposition of Christ. Other highlights include Bernini’s sculpture of David, Caravaggio’s Boy with a Basket of Fruit, and Raphael’s Entombment of Christ and Lady with a Unicorn. Another masterpiece is Titian’s painting on Sacred and Profane Love.
Tickets Galleria Borghese in Rome
Would you like to visit the Galleria Borghese museum in Rome? It is essential to reserve your tickets in advance. The museum enforces a strict visitor limit, making it nearly impossible to get same-day tickets on-site. Each time slot allows a maximum of 360 visitors, meaning tickets, especially during peak season, often sell out days or even weeks in advance.
By reserving your tickets early online, you can ensure your visit to the Borghese museum on the desired day and time.
You can easily reserve your tickets for Galleria Borghese online via the GetYourGuide website or the Tiqets website. Tickets are 28 euros per person.
Guided Tour of the Galleria Borghese
Would you like a complete guided tour of Galleria Borghese? This is also possible. You can book your tour via the GetYourGuide website. Tickets for the tour, with a maximum of 15 people, cost 95 euros per person.
Click here to book your Galleria Borghese tickets online
How to Get to Galleria Borghese in Rome
There are two easy options to reach Villa Borghese by metro. The first option is to take the metro to the Flaminio station at Piazza del Popolo. Alternatively, you can get off at the Spagna station. Both metro stations are located near the park where Villa Borghese is situated.
Opposite the Flaminio metro station, you’ll find the gate to the park, allowing you to walk to Villa Borghese without a significant detour. This walk will take about 25 to 30 minutes. From the Spagna metro station, it is also around a 25-minute walk to the entrance of Villa Borghese.
You can also travel to Villa Borghese by bus. Most buses stop at the Pinciana stop or the S. Paolo del Brasile stop, from which it is about a 10-minute walk to the Borghese museum. Bus lines 52, 53, 92, and 910 stop at these stops.
Bus line 92 (to Marliana) and 910 (to Macini) run from Termini station, and you can get off at the Pinciana / Borghese Museum stop. From the Barberini metro station, you can take bus lines 63 (towards Rossellini) and get off at the Pinciana / Museo Borghese stop. You can also take bus line 61 (towards Villa Borghese / Washington) or bus line 63 (towards largo Valsabbia) and get off at the S. Paolo del Brasile stop.
Keep in mind that these bus routes may change. Therefore, always check the ATAC website, the public transportation company of Rome, for the current bus routes. You can also easily plan your route using their route planner: ATAC Rome Route Planner.
Opening Hours of Galleria Borghese
The Borghese museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 AM to 7 PM, with the last entry at 5 PM. The museum is closed on Mondays, as well as on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Click here to book your Galleria Borghese tickets online
Villa Borghese Park
Galleria Borghese is situated in a large park (Villa Borghese) which was once the estate of the Borghese family. This vast estate on the Pincio hill has been in the family’s possession since 1580 and was transformed from a vineyard into a park at the behest of Cardinal Scipione Borghese.
Over time, the 80-hectare park has been renovated several times, including the addition of an orangery, aviary, ponds, and fountains in the English style. Since 1903, the park has been owned by the municipality of Rome and has served as a public park. Today, Villa Borghese park is the largest park in Rome and a popular spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the Italian capital.
Besides Galleria Borghese, there are other attractions to be found in Villa Borghese park. You will find various villas, fountains, sculptures, and several pavilions from the 1911 World’s Fair, including the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna museum. This museum of modern and contemporary art, primarily featuring Italian artists, houses a collection of over 5,000 paintings and sculptures spread across 75 rooms.
The park also features an 18th-century temple dedicated to the god of medicine. The Temple of Aesculapius is situated on an island in a small lake where you can row a boat. Additionally, you will find a more than 100-year-old zoo in the park, the Bioparco, which you can visit for a fee.
