Borghese Gallery Tickets
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Opening hours
The Borghese Gallery is open from Tuesday until Sunday from 9am until 7pm.
The last admission is at 5pm.
It is closed on every Monday, January 1st and December 25th.
How to get there
Metro- Rome has one of the smallest metro systems in Europe, line A’s station at Piazza di Spagna is the closest stop.
Bus- there are several bus services that operate to the Borghese Gallery. Numbers 5, 19, 52, 63, 86, 88, 92, 95, 116, 204, 217, 231, 360, 490, 495, 630, 910 and 926 all stop close by.
Taxi- you can easily get a taxi in Rome, just be aware that the taxi drivers in Rome are notorious for overcharging on the fares stated.
FAQ
How much does it cost to visit the Borghese Gallery?
If you buy tour tickets directly from the official website it costs 11 Euros for an adult ticket. For EU citizens aged 18-25 it costs 6.50 Euros, for anyone aged below 18 and for seniors aged over 65, the cost is 2 Euros. I have seen on some websites the listed price being more than double this, so be careful where you buy your tickets.
Should I buy my tickets in advance or buy them on the day?
The museum is an extremely popular attraction in Rome and booking a place in advance is required. The tickets can be reserved online or by telephone and if you arrive without a ticket you will not be able to gain entry. The spaces available for any particular day are usually sold out one or two days before.
Who did the original collection belong to?
An important part of the collection on show is that of the original contributor Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V and collected between 1576 and 1633. The Cardinal was the first sponsor of the artist Bernini as well as being an avid collector of works by Caravaggio. Works of art by both these artists feature extensively in the collection.
What exhibitions are on show on the first floor of the museum?
The first floor exhibits works by several renowned artists and includes works of art by Raphael, Tiziano, Caravaggio, Botticelli and Rubens.
What can I see on the ground floor?
The exhibits on show on the ground floor feature classic antiquities that were created from the first to the third centuries AD. Here you may be surprised with the displays of mosaics and sculptures. The walls and ceilings in this section of the mansion are decorated with impeccably preserved frescoes. In each hall on this floor you will find sculptures created by Bernini and Canovas.
Must Know
Borghese Gallery Guided Tour
You can book a place on a guided tour where you will be met outside the gallery entrance and taken on a two hour guided tour by an expert guide. The tour is conducted in English and costs 45 Euros for adults. The tour must be booked in advance as there are limited spaces available on each tour.
Construction of the Mansion
The original building was the design of the architect Flaminio Ponzio who began the building in 1612 before he passed away the following year. The work was then completed by Giovanni Vasanzio who added a U-shaped terrace and decorated the building with niches, openings, reliefs and classic statues.
Design of the Gardens
The redesign of the gardens into an English style was ordered by Prince Marcoantonio IV Borghese and was completed between 1730 and 1800 to include sculptures and antiques. By the end of the 18th century it became part of the public museum.
Transferred to the Italian State
By 1902, the Borghese family was unable to meet the costs of maintaining the villa and the entire collection was sold to the Italian State. The following year, in 1903 the gardens were sold as a separate entity to the City of Rome. The gardens then became a park for public use.
Later restoration
The mansion underwent a complete restoration between 1995 and 1997 including the rebuilding of the double staircase on the portico in addition to major interior work.
Why the Borghese Gladiator is in Paris.
In 1808, due to a deficit in the family legacy of Borghese, Prince Camillo Borghese, the brother in law of Napoleon sold several sculptures and antiquities to the French Emperor. This is the reason, why, the Borghese Gladiator, one of the collections most admirable statues is currently on show at Paris’s Louvre Museum.
What is the museums most famous piece of art?
Throughout the 20 highly decorated rooms of the museum, pride of place goes to the piece known as the Venus Victoriana. This piece dates from 1805 and is also known by another name, ‘Paulina Bonaparte.’
Places Nearby
Villa Borghese
Just a few steps away from the museum is the park known as Villa Borghese. It is located on Pincian Hill, close to the Tiber River and between the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza di Spagna. The public park is free to enter and is open from dawn until dusk. There are 9 entrances to the park, six are through monumental gates and at the main entrance you can hire rollerblades or a bicycle as an alternative to walking in the park.
Our Lady of the Conception
This church built between 1626 and 1631 is an uncommon church in Rome but its main attraction is its macabre crypt. The churches interior is one of bare walls which is in stark contrast to most of the churches in the city. As you descend into the crypt you may feel apprehension at the sight that greets you. Cardinal Antonio Marcello Barberini was a member of the Capuchin friars when the church was completed in 1631 and ordered that the remains of his order were moved from the cemetery and placed into the crypt. The bones were laid out in a specific pattern to create motifs. The crypt has six pocket sized chapels and is decorated with the bones of over 4,000 Capuchin friars that died from 1528 until 1870. The effect when you enter the crypt is one of shock in addition to its being macabre. There are even complete skeletons dressed in the brown habit worn by the friars.
Piazza di Spagna
The Piazza di Spagna is famous for its stairway known as Spanish Steps. Built at the start of the 18th century it connects the square with the Church of Trinita dei Monti. It is one of Rome’s most popular squares and is also close to one of the best shopping streets, Via dei Condotti.