It is one of Rome’s most iconic destinations. A cultural and artistic mecca, Villa Borghese is home to some exceptional museums, including the sublime Galerie Borghese, some of whose works are currently on loan to the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris. All set in 80 hectares of parkland, the green lung of the Italian capital.
Right in the heart of Rome, a stone’s throw from the Tiber and nestling on the Pincio hill, the Villa Borghese is a must-see on any Italian trip. And with good reason. In 1605, Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese bought a vineyard with the ambition of transforming it into an immense park. At the instigation of this nephew of the Borghese pope, the architects Flamingo Ponzio and Giovanni Vasanzio created sublime gardens, complete with fountains and sculptures.
Rome wasn’t built in a day… and the metamorphosis took no less than 15 years. At the same time as this area was being developed, a villa was built, the famous Villa Borghese. It was completed in 1933. In the 19th century, the park adopted a more English style. Although influential, the Borghese family decided to sell the park to the State at the beginning of the last century, as they could no longer afford the upkeep costs. In 1903, the park became public, welcoming the whole of Rome and travellers from all over the world.
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Featured photo : © Deiziane Silva – Unsplash
