Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is a great landscape garden in Rome, containing a number of buildings, museums, and attractions. It is the second largest public park in Rome (80 hectares or 148 acres) after that of the Villa Doria Pamphili. What makes this park so special and so different from other famous parks in the world, is that it mixes a beautiful green landscape with roman art: an invaluable sight!

We consider it a great place for families because it features entertainment and spots for everyone, including children.

What can you do in Villa Borghese?

You can visit the zoo: You can visit the amazing Bioparco (the zoo) that the Villa Borghese houses. The zoo covers 17 hectares and it has a wide variety of animals, all of them fit into natural habitats and well taken care of.

You can visit museums: Galleria Borghese, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Museo Pietro Canonica, Museo Civico di Zoologia and the museum where Etruscan art is shown: Villa Giulia.

You can also do some sport:  some running, jogging or you can also rent some bicycles and roller skates. We do actually recommend doing so because it gives you the chance to exercise after all the pasta and pizza you’ll eat in Rome!

You can go there with your children and rent little cars (similar to golf cars) and ride through the park. Or just have a walk with them and let them run and play. After all the museums and ruins, they will surely need some contact with nature.

You can also see important reference points such as the Water Clock of Monte Picio and the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre, which are definitely worth visiting and seeing.

History

The estate has its first existence in 1580 as a small vineyard of the Borghese family. In 1605, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V and patron of Bernini, began turning this previous chateau into the most extensive gardens built in Rome since antiquity on the hill of Piniciano. Over the years, the Borghese family bought surrounding lands to expand their estate.

In 1633, the Villa Borghese Pinciani was built to house the art collections of the Borghese family. It was situated next to Casino Nobile, known today as the as Galleria Borghese. This building was used as the national museum since 1903.

In 1901, the state bought the Villa Borghese and two years later (in 1903), it was opened to the public.

About the tickets

Borghese Gallery and Museum

Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5
00197 ROMA
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 to 19.30 and it’s close on Mondays, December 25 and January 1st.

Entrance fees to the museum
Full price – € 8.50
Students rate (between 18 and 25) – € 5.25, under 18 – € 2.00,
Elderly rate (over 65 yo) € 2.00

National Gallery of Ancient Art of Barberini Palace

This museum is located on Via delle Quattro Fontane 13.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 to 19.00 and is close on Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
Entrance fees to the museum:
Full price – € 5.00
Student rate (between 18 and 25) – € 2.50, under 18 – free
Elderly rate (over 65 yo) – free

Spada Gallery

This museum is located at Piazza Capo di Ferro 13. It is located in the palace headquarters of the State Council.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 08.30 to 19.30 and close on Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
Entrance and ticket desks are located on ground floor.
The ticket includes a visit to the photo gallery and Borromini’s picturesque.

Entrance fees
Full price – € 5.00
Students rate (between 18 and 25) – € 2.50, children under 18 – free
Elderly (over 65yo) – free

Corsini Gallery

This museum is located on Via della Lungara 10.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30 and close on Mondays, December 25 and January 1.
It is located on the 18th century Corsini Palace and entrance and ticket offices are on the first floor.

Entrance fees
Full price – € 4.00
Students price – € 2.00, children under 18 – free
Elderly (over 65yo) – free