Top Things to Do in Rome’s most famous park Villa Borghese
The most famous of the Roman parks, the Villa Borghese gardens wouldn’t look out of place behind an English stately home. In the main part of Villa Borghese park you can rent bikes, electric scooters, eco-cars or row boats. There is a lake with a temple dedicated to Esculapio. You can dine with a spectacular view over Rome in the elegant Casina Valadier near Pincio, or grab a coffee and something light at La Casina dell’Orologio cafe, bar and restaurant, which has been serving up panini and sweets in Viale dei Bambini since 1922.
Marvel at Caravaggio’s, Bernini’s and Raphael’s works at Rome’s Borghese Gallery or at the magnificient Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna. Got little ones in tow? Take your children to the Bioparco Zoo.
Pincio Terrace
Piazzale Napoleone I and Viale dell’Obelisco
These gardens are a perfect sanctuary if all that walking around in the June heat has tired you out. The paths are lined with marble busts of Italian greats. From the balustraded Pincio terrace you can enjoy one of the best views out over Rome looking directly down onto Piazza del Popolo. This is a great starting point to enter the gardens and there are always kiosks right near this terrace selling drinks and refreshments if the short but steep path up from Piazza del Popolo leaves you a bit breathless.
Casa del Cinema
Piazzale del Brasile
With a colorful history dating back to 1883 (the space was once used as a “latteria”), Casa del Cinema is a film institution in Rome. The house of cinema has a deluxe theatre, with 3 additional theatre and event spaces dedicated to the art of Italian cinema. For summer months, Casa del Cinema’s open-air theatre provides viewers with the opportunity to watch films al fresco in beautiful Villa Borghese.
Zoo/Biopark
Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico, 1
This zoo has been carefully remodelled under eco-friendly guidelines with special attention to the treatment of the animals. There is a train, the Reptilarium, a farm for children to feed the animals and rickshaw hire for a tour of the park. Read more.
→ → Click here to book your tickets to the BioParco Zoo
Museo e Galleria Borghese
Piazza Scipione Borghese 5, off Via Pinciana
This enchanting villa, built for Cardinal Scipione Borghese in 1615, houses an incredible collection of 17th- and 18th-century art. It is worth seeing just for the magnificent interior design, frescoed ceilings and Roman extravagance. However, the art, including works by Italian greats such as Casanova, Caravaggio and Bernini, is equally as breathtaking as the setting. Read more
→ → Click here to book your tickets to the Galleria Borghese
→ → Click here to book your private tour to the Galleria Borghese
Villa Borghese Lake and the Temple of Asclepius
Viale Esculapio
Did you know that there is a suggestive lake (laghetto) in the Villa Borghese park? It is the ideal place for moments of absolute relaxation, immersed in nature, where you can take a romantic boat trip to the Asclepius temple.
Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna (National Gallery of Modern Art)
Via delle Belle Arti, 131
Pass through the majestic entrance of the Galleria Nazionale and discover a permanent collection which is as grand as the building itself. Works by Van Gogh, Mondrian, Klimt, Degas, Pollock and Rodin can all be found here as well as consistently popular temporary exhibitions.
Silvano Toti Globe Theatre
Silvani Toti Globe Theatre, Largo Aqua Felix on the Viale Pietro Canonica
This theater replicates the London original, built entirely of wood, seating 1,250 with standing room for 420. Performances are from July to September, usually in Italian. It is located between the Biopark and the Carlo Bilotti museum. Read more.
INSPIRATION
Villa Borghese Reopens the Giardino delle Erme
Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia
Piazzale Villa Giulia 9
This museum was built in 1551 for Pope Julius III and is home to the greatest collection of Etruscan art and artifacts in the world.
Porta Pinciana (Pincian Gate)
Piazzale Basile, junction Via Veneto and Corso d’Italia
This gate or passageway was built under the emperor Honorius in the early 5th century and is an outstanding example of preserved architecture from the Middle Ages.
Museo Pietro Canonica
Via Pietro Canonica 2 (piazza di Siena)
The Museo Pietro Canonica, hidden in the greenery of the Villa Borghese, is an important example of the museological model of museums based on artist’s houses, and in its integrity is one of very few examples in Italy.
Museo Carlo Biliotti – Aranciera di Villa Borghese
Viale Fiorello La Guardia
The Orangery of Villa Borghese is the home for the works of contemporary art that the equally generous and passionate collector Carlo Bilotti chose to give to the city of Rome. Among the donated pieces are a nucleus of works by the superb painter Giorgio de Chirico, supported by works by Gino Severini, Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers and Giacomo Manzù. The entrance is free.
Address
Main entrances at Porta Pinciana, Piazzale Flaminio (Piazza del Popolo), Viale delle Belle Arti, Via Raimondi and Via Mercadante
Opening Time
Everyday from sunrise to sunset
How to get there
Metro Flaminio / Spagna
Read More
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