The Stunning Art of the Galleria Borghese in Rome, Italy

When I first visited Rome nearly 9 years ago, I was introduced to the incredible art of the Italian Renaissance, found on the ceilings of churches and in museums, the highlight being the art found in the Vatican. My interest in this art only grew stronger as I ventured on to Florence and Venice, and from there I have found an interest in art in general throughout my travels, and I now seek out art galleries where ever I go. Rome, however,  will always be the place that ignited that initial spark – before then, I didn’t really get the allure.

The art found in the Vatican absolutely fascinated me, but with up to 20,000 people crowded into the Vatican Museums each day, it is rather hard to enjoy the art as much as I would like – it’s hard to sit and ponder an art piece while being bumped by rushing tourist groups and a lady with an umbrella (inside?) standing in front of you before you can even read the title of the piece from the plaque on the wall. My return to the Vatican last year was a little frustrating rather than enjoyable – I was there to see the art, but all I saw was a glimpse of art between groups of people.

Galleria Borghese: A quiet alternative

The following day I visited the Galleria Borghese for the first time, located in the huge gardens of the Villa Borghese. I was pleasantly surprised by the relaxed atmosphere at this gallery. The art on display is as good as those pieces in the Vatican, but visits are timed, and only a certain amount of visitors are allowed entry within a 2 hour period. Although tickets have to be reserved in advance, this allows for a relaxed way to enjoy some of the best art in Rome without the crowds.

The Galleria Borghese is one of the best private art collections in the world. It was collected by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 17th century, and features some of the best pieces by artists of the likes of Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian and Raphael, to name a few. The villa itself is stunning, with all of its walls and ceilings covered in stunning art that could rival that of the famous paintings that hang on its walls. What I loved most about it was that I could view all of the art pieces in peace, with only a handful of other people wandering around. There were even times when I had rooms all to myself. I found the 2 hour time period to be just enough time to see all of the gallery at a relaxed pace.

This is just a taste of the stunning art found in the Galleria Borghese in Rome:

Visiting the Galleria Borghese in Rome

The Galleria Borghese is located in the Borghese Gardens in Rome, which can be reached on foot from downtown Rome or via taxi. The closest metro stop is Spagna which requires a walk through the Borghese Gardens to reach the gallery.

Reserving tickets in advance is a must at Galleria Borghese as visits are timed and limited each day. A maximum of 360 people can visit the gallery in 2 hour time periods, starting at 9am and ending at 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday. You can book your tickets in advance here.

The Galleria Borghese is one of the best art galleries in Rome, and it is a such a quiet and relaxing experience after the chaos of the Vatican Museums. I highly recommend visiting if you enjoy Italian Renaissance art.