Galleria Borghese

The Borghese Gallery features the collection of paintings, sculptures, and antiquities which was established by Cardinal Scipione Borghese around 1607. The personal collection stayed in the family until 1808, when the Borghese descendants were forced to sell the various masterpieces to Napoleon. Parts of the collection were taken to the Louvre; but a large number of paintings remain, including important works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Rubens, and Raphael.

The Borghese Gardens were once the private gardens of the Villa Borghese, which is the building that houses the gallery. They were given to the people of Rome in 1903 and today are the 3rd largest public park in the city. Before being sculpted into a stunning English-style garden, they were the site of a vineyard, and today they include lots of interesting sculptures and other features, including villas which house other museums and a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. You might need a ticket to access the other museums and galleries, but the entrance to the gardens is free. They’re a great spot for a picnic or a bike ride, especially if you’re suffering from museum fatigue!

Visits are limited to 2 hours, and most visitors report that 2 hours is plenty of time to see all the pieces of art. If you’re intending to explore the Borghese Gardens as well then plan about 3 to 4 hours for your whole trip.

It depends on the ages and personalities of the children - the gallery itself doesn’t go out of its way to be child-friendly so some children might find it a bit boring. That being said, if you brush up on your mythology and set them some small challenges (counting cherubs or searching for particular gods and goddesses) then they’ll have a good time exploring.