A Brief History Of The Galleria Borghese

Galleria Borghese is most certainly one of the sights to see on a visit in Rome. The garden villa was commissioned in 1613 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, an avid art collector, to house his impressive collection of Roman, Renaissance, and Baroque art, and it remains one of the most prestigious galleries in the city. With its extraordinary Bernini sculptures and numerous paintings by Caravaggio, the museum is a jewel that demonstrates the power of art sponsorship and reflects the personal finesse of Scipione Borghese.

Scipione Borghese by Ottavio Leoni Retrato

The Borghese family, an Italian noble and papal family that originated in Siena, moved to Rome in the 16th century and quickly grew in wealth and prominence thanks to their ties to the Roman Catholic Church. Camillo Borghese was elected Pope Paul V in 1605, giving him largely unchecked powers, and in a classic case of papal nepotism, he named his nephew Scipione Borghese a Cardinal. Scipione Borghese essentially headed the Vatican government and was able to accumulate significant wealth through papal fees and taxes, areas which he oversaw. A passionate art collector, he invested much of it into growing the family art collection which is now on display within Galleria Borghese. The Cardinal purchased and commissioned art by a variety of renowned Italian artists including Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian, though he acquired some of the pieces in less noble ways.

The Cardinal was a particularly ardent patron of the young sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini and helped him rise to fame in the 17th century. One of the most famous pieces in the Galleria Borghese is Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne, which depicts Apollo reaching towards Daphne at precisely the moment that her father transforms her into a tree to prevent her from being burned by the sun god. Scholars believe that this striking work was particularly resonant for the Cardinal, who is believed to have been ridiculed for his homosexuality, and parallels his feelings of love and loss.

Another emotive sculpture by Bernini is The Rape of Proserpina, which depicts Proserpina being seized by Pluto in order to take her to the underworld. The Galleria is also noteworthy for its significant collection of Caravaggio paintings, including Boy with a Basket of Fruit, a portrait of the artist himself as Bacchus and St. John the Baptist. The most famous piece, however, may be Canova’s neoclassical statue of Venus Victrix: commissioned by Prince Camillo Borghese, it depicts his wife Paolina Borghese (Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister) as the mythical Venus reclining on a couch. It arrived in the gallery in 1838.

Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio

The Galleria structure itself was commissioned by Cardinal Borghese in 1613 to showcase his art collection. The property, channeling a suburban pleasure villa, was developed with vast landscaped gardens that are now referred to as Villa Borghese (distinct from the art gallery). Architect Flaminio Ponzio initiated the project, which was ultimately completed by Giovanni Vasanzio.

When the Borghese family encountered financial difficulties in the 19th century, Prince Camillo Borghese sold many pieces from the collection to the French state, then led by Napoleon Bonaparte. For this reason, the Louvre includes a Borghese Collection, which consists of classical sculptures. The entire Borghese estate was acquired by the Roman government in 1902.

Galleria Borghese

Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5 (within the Villa Borghese gardens)
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 8:30-19:30
Tickets: €15 and must be purchased in advance for a specific time slot

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.