Quiet Rome - Villa Borghese Park

Once a private garden...

The gardens of the Villa Borghese were designed by Cardinal Borghese to enhance the villa he had built to house his art collection. In 1605, he had a vineyard transformed into lush, shady gardens dotted with numerous fountains. The whole complex was completed in 1633. It would later become the city's first 'English garden'.

...that went public

At the beginning of the 20th century, the government bought the property and handed it over to the city, which turned it into a municipal park open to the public. There are several museums here, including the Galeria Borghese, which contains one of the finest collections in the world, in the original villa. There is also the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Villa Medici and a zoo.

So feel free to run it

We guide you there from the Piazza del Popolo, and before entering the park, you'll be offered a short diversions before climbing the hill. Along a quiet side street, you'll be taken up the Piazza di Spagna famous steps. You'll then be guided into the park itself, where you'll start by enjoying a sublime view of the city and St Peter's Cathedral from the Pincio Terrace. Then you will run the beautiful pathways that lead you from fountains to small lakes, notably the one where the small Temple of Aesculapius stands on an island. Of course, you won't miss the gardens and main buildings of this sandy park, shaded by majestic umbrella pines.