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Masterpieces of the Galleria Borghese

Your Borghese Gallery private tour visits one of the greatest private art collections in the world and is led by an art historian who will unfold the layers of meaning of this magnificent temple of art for you. The renowned collection, which includes masterpieces by artists such as Raphael, Titian, Bernini and Caravaggio, was created by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the early 1600s. The unprecedented collection set an incredibly high standard for all subsequent private collections. On your visit, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy the Borghese Gardens, among the most famous and beautiful in Italy.

Borghese Gallery Private Tour

Our Borghese Gallery private tour begins with an explanation into the history of this unique collection, created by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V. An avid art collector, Borghese amassed an enormous collection of antiquities – some of which are now housed in the Louvre – as well as masterpieces by Renaissance painters such as Raphael and Titian. Borghese was also an early patron of Gianlorenzo Bernini, with the gallery boasting a plethora of the sculptor’s work, including the David and Apollo and Daphne.

Gallery entry times are strictly limited to 250 visitors every two hours, ensuring exclusive viewing of these masterpieces without the crowds. Your knowledgable English-speaking guide, an expert in art history, will select highlights from the collection to enrich your knowledge of both Scipione Borghese as a personality, as well as the diverse group of artists recognized in his collection.

One of the few collections to hold a large number of Caravaggio works, an entire room is dedicated to the controversial painter, your private guide will delve deeply into the impact his work had both during and after his time.

Visit to the Borghese Gardens

We will also spend some time exploring a portion of the extensive Borghese Gardens, which surround the gallery. Originally Scipione’s villa escape from the city, as it was located outside the city walls, the grounds still contain traces of the opulence Borghese used to impress his guests. The orangery, aviary, and a manmade lake are just some of the highlights of the grounds, in addition to the lush gardens and fountains that transport us back to 17th century Rome.

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