Villa Borghese - A Must-See When in Rome, Italy

Rome resembles many big metropolises because it isPiazza di Siena Amphitheater. And not far from the
always alive with outdoor things to do. So when youbotanical garden you can find a stunning Baroque arch
are a tourist in Rome, the pace can be non-stop, whichthat dates to the 18th century entitled the 'Arco di
can make you wish you could find a quiet andSettimio Severo'.
peaceful place to relax . And the spot that fits thatIf you feel hunger pangs come upon you, not to worry
description perfectly is the Villa Borghese.because there is a small bar in the middle of the park
The 148 acres of this tranquil setting is not the largestthat offers a delightful and authentic Italian pasta dish
retreat of its kind but you will find museums there,or where you can be refreshed by a Campari. It is a
along with a beautiful artificial lake and aviaries to enjoyshort stroll from that bar to find some of the exhibitions
as well. In the 16th century Cardinal Borghese setthat were on display at the 1911 World Exposition here
about to create a beautiful villa based on thefor you to explore.
geometric model of Versailles. The Cardinal evenWithout fail though, most tourists are drawn to the
provided the initial sketch that was used to constructmany museums that have become popular on the
the villa that is at the heart of the compound.grounds of Villa Borghese.
The man made lake was added in the 18th century toOne reason for the popularity is you can find some
the center of Villa Borghese. To add to the scenicsculptures by Bernini on display at The Museo e
vision of the lake, a small Ionic style temple was addedGalleria Borghese and you can compare those here to
which was dedicated to the God of Healing.the many fountains in the city of Rome that Bernini
Just as Cardinal Borghese took great pleasure indesigned and built. A notable piece that is worth the
admiring the peacocks, ostriches and other exotic birdsstop is a Bernini sculpture entitled Abduction of
in the aviaries where gazelles once stayed, these birdsProserpina by Pluto. But this gallery is home to a
are there for your enjoyment as well.number of famous Renaissance painters, including
At the turn of the 20th century, the grounds andRaphael and Titian.
facilities of Villa Borghese were donated to the City ofThe original summer residence for Pope Julius II that he
Rome. Since then a number of improvements haveused in 1553 can be found in the Villa Giulia. The name
been made, including more temples, sculptures andof that villa, the Museo Nazionale Etrusco lets us know
fountains. A notable fountain you can see there is thethat a tour of the museum will let us see some
original version of the Tritons in the Fountain of thefascinating Etruscan art works that were found in
Moor which can be seen at the Piazza Navona in theexcavations in the hills that surround Rome.
city. The actual ones in the fountain are not originalsIt is easy to find the entrance to the Villa Borghese
but replicas of these originals.because it can be found just north of the Spanish
This delightful 100 year old park offers delights andSteps. Navigate to that location and you will find the
new things to discover whenever you are there. It isentrance at the end of the Via Veneto and above
not uncommon at the appropriate time of year to findPiazza del Poppolo and the Porta Pinciana. The Villa
Siena Square in the park hosting horse jumpingBorghese is a wonderful place to spend a morning and
competitions that you can enjoy. There is a tranquilget that rest and quiet that is so helpful during a busy
botanical garden for you to linger in and it is commontourist schedule and to recover in time to go out for an
to find outdoor concerts being performed at theexciting time exploring the Roman nightlife.