About Villa Borghese Gardens

If you are considering a trip to the Villa Borghese Gardens, you will be amazed to know that Rome's Villa Borghese Gardens is much more than just a public graden. Spread over 80 hectares of the Pincian Hill in Rome, this landscape garden is sprinkled with attractions. The Borghese Gallery is the most popular attraction, although the park's boundaries also include several other museums, theatres, and a zoo. The third-largest public park in Rome is Villa Borghese. Over 90 sitesare accessible from numerous routes and nine gates. Other must-see locations are the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, which are near the Borghese Gardens' perimeters. The Borghese Gallery is properly marked and is where most tourists go first.It is not unusual to get lost inside the Villa Borghese Gardens because of the many trails and roadways that crisscross the area. Therefore, it's crucial to have a real or a digital map in hand before you go. Acquainting yourself with the layout of the Borghese Gardens by studying your map can make your trip easy to tour around. Accessing all Borghese sights at one go might be challenging but one must surely take a tour of this beautiful and magnificent villa gardens.

Things to see at Villa Borghese Gardens

Casina di Raffaello
Casina di Raffaello

The Casina di Raffaello is one of the most stunning structures in the Villa Borghese Gardens and is a well-worth visit because it is home to magnificent paintings. Currently, the structure serves as a center for kid-friendly activities, where seminars and other events are also planned. You should be aware that your Borghese Gardens ticket does not include admission to Casina di Raffaello, which is available separately. Additionally, the attraction is closed on Mondays, so make travel arrangements accordingly.

Bioparco di Roma Zoo
Bioparco di Roma Zoo

One of Europe's first zoos was the Zoological Garden of Rome. Carl Hagenbeck founded it in 1908 with the goal of altering the way zoos were constructed. This new building preserved a distinct separation between the people and the wildlife by allowing them to live freely rather than in captivity. More than 1,000 creatures from 200 different species live in the Bioparco today, including bears, chimps, and members of the cat family.

Pincian Hill
Pincian Hill

Pincian Hills is near the Villa Borghese gardens, where you can find a stunning vantage point for seeing Rome. The Pincian Hills are located inside the well-known Aurelian fortifications even though they are not one of the Seven Hills of Rome. A well-known road among the hills called the Passeggiata del Pincio is flanked by sculptures and statues of well-known figures. The Pincio Terrible, which offers breathtaking views of Rome, especially the roof of St. Peter's Basilica, is also reachable via the Villa Borghese.

Victorian Water Clock
Victorian Water Clock

The water clock is among the most distinctive features of the Borghese Gardens and it seems like it belongs to a magical story. The Victorian Water Clock was created by inventor Giovan Battista in 1867, and expertly mixes science with the power of nature. The water clock, also known as a hydro chronometer, is situated in the centre of a pond in the Borghese Gardens, not far from the Temple of Aesculapius. It accurately measures time even today and remains open all day.


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Villa Medici
Villa Medici

Another must-see feature of the Borghese Gardens is the Mansion Medici which is an exquisite villa next to the Villa Borghese. The villa's building work was finished in 1544, and over its legendary course of history, numerous people have owned the villa. Napoleon Bonaparte moved the French Academy into the Villa Medici grounds, which resulted in a significant change of ownership. The edifice and the surrounding grounds have now been restored to their former grandeur and provide tourists with a lovely experience.

Teatro Dei Burattini San Carlino
Teatro Dei Burattini San Carlino

The San Carlino puppet show is a fantastic spectacle designed primarily to entertain children while their parents visit the museum. The protagonist of the program is Pulcinella, a well-known puppet with his roots in Naples, the city where the program was born. The puppets are used in tales that inspire children to have ambitious dreams. So bring your kids to this fun, joyful, and engaging activity as they will be engaged in this experience more than the exquisite Italian art show in the numerous museums.

History of Villa Borghese Gardens

You might be eager to learn a little bit about the Villa Borghese Garden History before beginning your journey to the Borghese Gardens. When the Borghese family first owned them in the 16th century, the gardens were only a tiny vineyard. The Borghese family gradually accumulated additional property through the years until they had 80 acres of gardens. The layout of the garden was greatly altered in the 19th century to become an English-style landscape garden. Later, the Villa Borghese gardens were purchased by the Rome municipality in 1903 and made available to the general public. There are various villas in the expansive landscape park designed in the English style. This park may also be accessed from the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, respectively.Cardinal Scipione Borghese made the decision to have his private residence constructed in the structure that is today known as the Borghese Gallery. He desired a location that was both striking and spacious enough to accommodate the Borghese family's collection of artwork. But in addition to constructing his own residence, he also turned the area into lovely gardens. Additionally, Scipione Borghese had peacocks and ostriches roam the grounds to further enamour his guests. Built from 1551–1555 as Pope Julius III's summer retreat, the Villa Giulia, which is situated next to the Villa Borghese grounds, today houses the Etruscan Museum.

Plan Your Visit to Villa Borghese Gardens

Best Times to Visit
Tips
Best Times to Visit
  • Although Villa Borghese is open twenty-four hours a day, there are periods when it can get very busy. Fortunately, the park is so big that you most likely won't encounter any crowding concerns.

  • Since the majority of the park's major attractions are open between 11 am and 6 pm, these are the busiest hours. It could be a good idea to go for a stroll or perhaps do some stargazing later as most museums tend to close up for the evening around 6 o'clock.

  • Consider arriving between the hours of 8 and 11 am if you want to avoid the throng altogether. Around this time, several attractions begin to open for the day, so you won't exactly have to miss anything.

Villa Borghese Gardens FAQs

How do I get to Villa Borghese?

    Most park visitors enter Villa Borghese through one of two main gateways. One is through the entrance at the Spanish Steps or Porta Pinciana and the other can be found at the entrance next to Piazza del Popolo.

What are Villa Borghese's opening hours?

Is there an entrance fee to enter Villa Borghese?

Is it worth visiting Villa Borghese gardens?

What is the closing time of villa Borghese gardens?

Where is villa Borghese gardens located?

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