Discover the Stories Behind Renowned Artworks on a Borghese Gallery Tour
The city of Rome is known for its art and culture and this art gallery is a celebration of the same. Nestled amidst the beautiful 17th-century Villa Borghese Gardens on Pincian Hill, Borghese Gallery houses some of the most iconic paintings and sculptures by renowned artists like Raphael, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and many others. It is one of the most visited museums in Rome offering a unique and eye-opening art experience to its visitors.
Read on to know how a Borghese Gallery tour will help you better explore and understand all the masterpieces at the museum.
Why Take a Borghese Gallery Tour?
Borghese Gallery is one of the most popular and most visited tourist attractions in Rome. These are a few reasons why a Borghese Gallery Tour is the perfect way to explore this museum.
- A guided tour is the best way to explore this art gallery and learn more about artworks and artists because it includes an expert who possesses in-depth knowledge of the attraction.
- Your Borghese Gallery tour includes a skip the line feature that allows you to avoid long queues and gain priority access to the gallery.
- On a guided tour, you get to learn so much about the history of the Borghese Gallery and the various works of art inside it.
- The gallery might be a little overwhelming to navigate all by yourself, which is why booking a Borghese Gallery tour is recommended.
- The Borghese Gallery is a popular tourist attraction in Rome, which is why it is almost always crowded. Access gets easier, quicker, and hassle-free with guided tours.
All Your Borghese Gallery Tour Options
Highlights Covered on Your Borghese Gallery Tour
Apollo and Daphne, Bernini
One of the most beautiful sculptures at the gallery, Apollo and Daphne by Bernini depicts the tragic love story of the God of Archery and the Nymph. Apollo gets struck by Cupid and falls in love with Daphne. He chases her only to see Daphne getting transformed into a tree before he can get a hold of her. Bernini has beautifully portrayed fluidity in movement with the Nymph’s gradual transformation from a human to a tree. Parts of Daphne show her as a woman while the others show branches of a tree wrapping themselves around her body.
David Con La Testa Di Golia, Caravaggio
This one is a masterpiece by Caravaggio and one of the most spectacular paintings at the Borghese Gallery. He painted this supposed self-portrait while trying to escape a murder charge. The dark background provides the perfect contrast to the illuminated figure of David, who is perceived to be Goliath’s executioner. Caravaggio probably tried to convey his own situation through the painting with the severed head of Goliath representing a damned Caravaggio as he tries to flee a murder charge.
Dama Con Liocorna, Raphael
Also known as Young Woman with a Unicorn, the highlights of this painting by Raphael are the subject’s eyes and the stoic expression on her face. The identity of the woman is unknown, but several art history experts have compared the painting to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Monalisa, which was painted just before Raphael’s Dama Con Liocorna. This one depicts the woman in a pose similar to Da Vinci’s Monalisa with folded hands and a unicorn, which was believed to symbolize the purity of women.
Melissa, Dosso Dossi
This oil on canvas painting by Dosso Dossi is believed to be inspired by Raphael’s works of art as is evident in the vivid brushstrokes and intricate details of the artwork. The painting depicts Melissa, a sorceress who freed a group of knights from evil fairy Alcina’s curse by transforming them from trees, stones, and animals to their human forms. She looks like the definition of royalty holding a tablet and a torch in her hands. Another interesting feature of the painting is that the background is as prominent as the subject of the artwork.
Villa Borghese Gardens
The third largest public park in Rome, the Villa Borghese Gardens is influenced by English sensibilities and beautifully maintained with the presence of a wide variety of flora and fauna.
It is also home to over 90 interesting attractions like Villa Medici, Victorian Water Clock, Casina di Raffaello, Pincian Hill, Teatro Dei Burattini San Carlino, Museo Carlo Bilotti, National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Museo Pietro Canonia, among others. You can also watch films at Bioparco di Roma Zoo or the Casa Del Cinema.
Know MoreGuided Tours vs Non-Guided Tours
Guided Tours
- An expert guide will accompany you on your Borghese Gallery tour and provide you with all the information and knowledge you need about the gallery.
- The skip the line feature on your guided tour ticket allows you to skim past long queues by guaranteeing priority access to the gallery.
- Guided tours include all the major points of interest that you should visit with. It helps make the most of a visit to a site as big as the Borghese Gallery.
- These tours usually include a small group of people to offer a more immersive and interactive experience to tourists.
Non-Guided Tours
- A non-guided or general admission ticket will allow you to explore the gallery at your own pace without any hurry.
- We recommend getting an audio guide for yourself to know more about the history of the museum and the different artworks on display.
- You will not be able to skip the line to enter the gallery on a non-guided tour. The wait to get in could be anywhere between 30 minutes to a couple of hours to access the gallery.
What to Expect on a Borghese Gallery Tour?
A visit to such a complex and iconic historical attraction can be overwhelming and a little difficult to navigate all by yourself. To help you explore the museum more efficiently, we recommend opting for a Borghese Gallery guided tour because it includes a tour guide who knows everything about the gallery and its artworks.
Once you meet your tour guide at the starting point, you will be taken inside the art gallery and shown some of the most iconic paintings and sculptures by renowned artists like Raphael, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and many others. There is so much to see and learn about one of the most famous museums in Rome and a Borghese Gallery tour is the best way to do so.
Visitor Tips
- Book your tickets early and online.
- Wear comfortable footwear because you will have to walk a lot inside the museum.
- Read up about the Borghese Gallery if you’re not taking a guided tour.
- Make sure you spend at least 2 hours on your visit to the museum.
- The museum has a cloakroom in case you’re carrying large bags, baby strollers, or luggage. It is, however, advisable to carry backpacks or small purses.
- The best time to visit the museum is in the early hours when the attraction opens or late in the day before closing time.
- Photography is permitted but avoid using flash.
- Stop by the bookshop for guidebooks, pamphlets, posters, art publications, souvenirs, and more.
- The museum is accessible to people with motor disabilities. They also provide wheelchairs for rent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Borghese Gallery Tours
A. Yes. Borghese Gallery tours are available for booking.
A. You can book a Borghese Gallery tour online.
A. Borghese Gallery tours are priced at €51.
A. You can book the Guided Borghese Gallery Tour with Priority Entrance.
A. The Borghese Gallery tours include access to all important sections of the museum. You get an opportunity to admire all the works of art on display and also know more about the artists who created these masterpieces.
A. The Borghese Gallery guided tour is available in English.
A. The Borghese Gallery guided tour covers all the major points of interest inside the Borghese Gallery as well as the important artworks exhibited there.
A. The small group guided tour usually has no more than 10 people while other guided tours have a maximum capacity of 25 guests.
A. Yes. The Borghese Gallery guided tours include skip the line access.
A. Yes. You can cancel your Borghese Gallery tour tickets up to 24 hours before the scheduled date and get a full refund.
A. The Borghese Gallery tour is 2 hours long.
A. No. There are no discounted tickets available for the Borghese Gallery tour.
