iGalleria Borghese
The Galleria Borghese is, room for room, probably the most concentrated collection of masterpieces in Rome. It sits inside a 17th-century villa at the heart of the Villa Borghese gardens, and the building itself — all frescoed ceilings and marble floors — is as much part of the experience as what hangs on the walls. Cardinal Scipione Borghese was one of those patrons who combined genuine taste with the power to get what he wanted, and he wanted Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian. He got them. The ground floor is dominated by Bernini's sculptures — Apollo and Daphne, The Rape of Proserpina, David — carved when he was barely in his twenties. They are technically impossible and emotionally overwhelming in equal measure. Upstairs, Caravaggio's Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Madonna of the Palafrenieri, and the violent, brooding David with the Head of Goliath (a self-portrait as the severed head) share space with Raphael's Deposition and Titian's Sacred and Profane Love. The two-hour timed entry feels restrictive until you realize it keeps the galleries uncrowded enough to actually see the work. Book well in advance — this is one of the hardest reservations in Rome to get, especially in high season.
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What's On
Permanent Collections
Titian: Sacred and Profane Love
Titian's c.1514 allegory sets two women, one robed and one nude, either side of a fountain: an enigmatic meditation on earthly and divine love painted for a Venetian wedding.
Caravaggio: David with the Head of Goliath
Painted around 1609-10 during Caravaggio's exile, a melancholic David lifts Goliath's severed head; the dying head is the artist's own self-portrait.
Bernini: David
Bernini's 1623-24 David twists mid-throw, brow furrowed and lips clenched, pulling the viewer into the action, a Baroque break from Michelangelo's serene hero.
Canova: Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
Canova's 1804-08 marble portrays Napoleon's sister Pauline as a reclining, half-nude Venus holding the golden apple, a neoclassical scandal in its day.
Bernini: Apollo and Daphne
Bernini's 1622-25 marble, carved in his early twenties, freezes the instant Daphne turns to laurel to escape Apollo, her fingers sprouting leaves. The gallery's defining masterpiece.
Plan Your Visit
Getting there
Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
Nearest station: Spagna (Line A) and Flaminio (Line A)
Show on mapHours
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | 09:00–19:00 |
| Wed | 09:00–19:00 |
| Thu | 09:00–19:00 |
| Fri | 09:00–19:00 |
| SatToday | 09:00–19:00 |
| Sun | 09:00–19:00 |
Admission
From €18
Free first Sunday of the month. Reservation mandatory. Strict 2-hour timed visits.
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Visitor Information
- How much does Galleria Borghese cost?
- Standard adult admission to Galleria Borghese is €18. Free first Sunday of the month. Reservation mandatory. Strict 2-hour timed visits.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
- What are the opening hours of Galleria Borghese?
- Galleria Borghese is open Tue-Sun 09:00-19:00. Closed Mondays. Visits in strict 2-hour slots (09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00). Max 360 visitors per slot.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
- Where is Galleria Borghese?
- Galleria Borghese is located at Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy, in the Villa Borghese / Pinciano area of Rome. The nearest stations are Spagna (Line A) and Flaminio (Line A).
- What can I see at Galleria Borghese?
- A jewel-box villa museum in Rome's largest park, housing Bernini's greatest sculptures and masterworks by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian. Current highlights include Titian: Sacred and Profane Love, Caravaggio: David with the Head of Goliath and Bernini: David.
- Do I need to book Galleria Borghese in advance?
- Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
- When is the best time to visit Galleria Borghese?
- Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Image credits
11
- Galleria BorgheseAlessio Damato, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Titian: Sacred and Profane LoveTitian / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
- Caravaggio: David with the Head of GoliathCaravaggio / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
- Bernini: DavidGian Lorenzo Bernini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Titian. Dialogues between the Sacred and the ProfaneCourtesy of Galleria Borghese
- Canova: Pauline Bonaparte as Venus VictrixAntonio Canova / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bernini: Apollo and DaphneArchitas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museo Carlo BilottiKrzysztof Golik / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MACRO - Museum of Contemporary Art of RomeAlbarubescens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- La Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAM)Daderot via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
- Galleria Continua Romarandreu, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0