Rome's Villa Borghese Park

An oasis of calm in the midst of the central chaos, the Villa Borghese is a jogger's paradise. The white gravel paths that wind around the greenery of the park are a world removed from the narrow car-filled streets and the uneven cobblestones of the city centre. During the summer months the park’s trees provide optimum shade for the hot, weary tourist while the lawns become an open air paradise for sun worshippers.

While the park is the perfect spot for a picnic at any time of year, it is much more than just manicured lawns. Dubbed the 'Park of Museums', the Villa Borghese Park contains some of the best art galleries and museums in Rome including the Borghese Gallery and Museum, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art and the National Etruscan Museum.

In the original villa built to house Cardinal Scipione Borghese's art collection, the Borghese Gallery and Museum has some of the finest paintings and sculptures in the world. Paintings from Titian, Rubens, Caravaggio and Raphael sit alongside sculptures from Canova and Bernini including one of the museum's highlights, Bernini's 'Apollo and Daphne'. To visit the museum it is necessary to book in advance. You can do this through the website.

Just across the road from the Park you’ll also find the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art with a collection of 19th and 20th century works, mostly by Italian artists. There is also an amphitheatre where various events are staged including the famous 'Piazza di Siena' international horse show.

Today the Villa Borghese is right in the heart of Rome but when it was built it was on the outskirts. Originally a 16th century vineyard it was turned into a park by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in 1605 with formal geometric shapes designed by landscaper Domenico Savino da Montepulciano. You might also notice Triton statues which look exactly like those on the Moor Fountain at the southern end Piazza Navona. Well these statues are actually the originals – they were moved from the Square to the Park during renovations and were never replaced so those in Piazza Navona are actually 19th century replicas. The Park was finally opened to the public in 1903 when the City of Rome obtained it from the Borghese family.

You can see anything and everything in Villa Borghese Park – from elegantly dressed women walking their pooches, to romantic couples or students preparing for exams, and all this hustle and bustle helped to inspire Vittorio' De Sica's 1953 film 'It Happened in the Park'.

And after a long day relaxing in the park, admiring the artworks, sitting by the lake, walking your dog or even visiting the little zoo, like all places in Italy a good coffee or an aperitif is never far away- yes the park has several cafés and even makes its own ice-creams. And on the way back down the steps to Piazza del Popolo, stop at the viewpoint and look at the panorama of Rome's rooftops, domes and spires.

How to Get There
The Park is easily reached by arriving at Piazza Del Popolo (Metro Stop Flaminio, Line A) and then climbing the steps at the end of the Piazza. You can also take Tram 3 or 19 directly into the park, or bus 88, 95, 490 and 495.