Rome Holiday Attraction: Villa Borghese
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It is a characteristic of a lively metropolitan city like Rome to have an active and energetic outdoor life. So when you are a tourist in Rome, the fast paced city lifestyle is thrilling to be a part of. But before long the time will come when you will want the peace and quiet of the country. And there is no better place to find that tranquillity than in Villa Borghese.
While Villa Borghese is not the largest facility of its kind, the 148 acres has a lot to offer, including many museums, aviaries and a wonderful and relaxing artificial lake. In the 16th century Cardinal Borghese bought the vineyard and transformed it to fit his vision that was inspired by Versailles. The Cardinal himself drew the initial designs, sketching out a villa that he later saw constructed to fit his vision.
An artificial lake, which contains a small Ionic temple was added towards the end of the 18th Century.
Cardinal Borghese’s love of birds is reflected in his aviaries at the site where he could keep and enjoy exotic peacocks, ostriches and other lovely species on the grounds where gazelles used to graze.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Villa Borghese was handed over to the city of Rome for a public park. Since then much has been done to improve the location, including the addition of a number of temples, many artistic fountains and many fine sculptures just as can be found in the city. When admiring the sculptures around the grounds, don’t be surprised if you find the original Tritons exactly like the ones you saw at the Fountain of the Moor in the Piazza Novona. These sculptures at Villa Borghese are the originals for that fountain. The ones you see in the Piazza are replicas that were made in the 19th century.
For 100 years the Villa Borghese has welcomed the public to enjoy the many delights it contains. There are numerous seasonable events you may come across on your visit, including horse jumping events in Siena Square. The beautiful Piazza di Siena amphitheater commonly is used for outdoor concerts which you can take in before touring the botanical gardens. And take time to admire the lovely Baroque 18th century arch called the ‘Arco di Settimio Severo’.
If you get a bit faint from hunger, not to worry, there is a small bar in the center of the Villa where you can find tasty and authentic Italian pasta or just sit back and recuperate your energies over a Campari. And when you are ready to move on, not far from the cafe are the pavilions that were shown at the 1911 Word Exposition.
Of the many great things to see and do at the Villa Borghese, probably the museums draw the most attention.
Naturally you will find a good representation of Bernini sculpture on display since that artist is the man most often credited with designing many of the outdoor fountains in Rome. The Museo e Galleria Borghese does not disappoint, so you can find such brilliant Bernini pieces as Bernini’s Abduction of Proserpina by Pluto here. This gallery is well diversified with the artwork of a number of well respected artists including Titian and Raphael.
The original summer residence for Pope Julius II that he used in 1553 can be found in the Villa Giulia. The name of that villa, the Museo Nazionale Etrusco lets us know that a tour of the museum will let us see some fascinating Etruscan art works that were found in excavations in the hills that surround Rome.
It is not hard to find the entrance to Villa Borghese as they are located north of the Spanish Steps. Look between the Porta Pinciana at one end of the Via Veneto and the Piazza del Poppolo and you will find the entrance to the park. You will be glad you did because spending a few hours in the Villa Borghese is fun, relaxing and a great way to continue sightseeing in a more tranquil environment. After passing an afternoon in this scenic park, you will be ready to get back to the city for a busy touring schedule or a fast paced social time in the exciting world of Rome’s nightlife.
