Borghese Gallery and Museum
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What people say
Monica Mikhail
"This stunning museum is located in the heart of the Borghese Gardens, and is home to a breathtaking collection of art and sculpture. The gallery was originally created by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the early 17th century, and he personally handpicked the pieces for his collection. Today, visitors can admire works by some of the greatest artists of all time, including Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian. One of the highlights of the Borghese Gallery is the collection of sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. His masterpiece "Apollo and Daphne" is particularly impressive, depicting the moment when the god Apollo is transformed into a laurel tree as he pursues the nymph Daphne. The level of detail and emotion in this sculpture is simply breathtaking. Another must-see work in the gallery is Caravaggio's "David with the Head of Goliath". This powerful painting captures the moment when David triumphantly holds the severed head of the giant Goliath, and is a testament to Caravaggio's mastery of light and shadow."
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Tiffany Parks
Available for hire
"Marvel at the Sick Bacchus, a self-portrait Caravaggio made when he was languishing in a hospital at only 22. Admire the Madonna dei Palafrenieri, a painting that was meant to adorn an altar in St. Peter's Basilica but was rejected because of the Virgin Mary's scandalous cleavage and a too-old-to-be-naked Christ Child. Be seduced by the languorous and provocative Boy with a Basket of Fruit.
Thanks to the unscrupulous art-collecting methods of Scipione Borghese, this is the largest collection of Caravaggio works under one roof.
🖼️ Paintings here:
Boy with a Basket of Fruit (1593)
Sick Bacchus (1593-1594)
Saint Jerome Writing (1605)
Madonna dei Palafrenieri (1606)
Saint John the Baptist (1610)
David with the Head of Goliath (1610)
Note: Be sure to book your visit to the Borghese Gallery well in advance. Tickets sell out as far as 3-4 weeks in advance. If you're not having luck online, try calling instead. There are English-speaking operators and often there's more availability when calling. (+39 06 841 3979)"
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Jori Bonadurer
"I went here and felt like I was transported into some magical Baroque fantasy. Bernini,, the Bernini (!!), has numerous statues in this museum, as well as works by Caravaggio and Canova. Plus, it feels like you’re snooping in some luxurious villa, well, because you kinda are. It’s located in the Villa Borghese, the third largest park in Rome, and it’s just gorgeous.
My tip for this: after (or before) going to the gallery have fun wandering around the park- it is really is a super cute place. There’s families going around on those four people bikes, tons of little cafes (get a cafe or cappuccino freddo if it’s hot out!), and lots of nooks and places to explore. I grabbed a simple lunch of a sandwich from a food stall, and ate it as I overlooked a fountain.
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About Borghese Gallery and Museum
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