Galleria Borghese
Quick answer
Galleria Borghese in Rome, Italy — cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned the villa in 1605 to display his extraordinary collection of antique and contemporary art. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM; closed Mondays. Admission: €13 standard admission. Allow 2 hours and book a timed ticket ahead.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Galleria Borghese at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | €13 standard admission |
| Booking | Book a timed ticket in advance — peak slots sell out |
| Time needed | 2 hours |
| Best time to visit | Book the first slot of the day (9 AM) for the calmest experience. |
| Getting there | Metro: M2 to Spagna — 10-minute walk through Villa Borghese park (signposted) |
| Address | Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy |
| Official website | galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Galleria Borghese known for?
The Galleria Borghese occupies a 17th-century villa in Rome's Villa Borghese park, built by Cardinal Scipione Borghese to display one of the most extraordinary private art collections ever assembled. Scipione was Bernini's first great patron, and the villa holds the greatest concentration of Bernini sculpture in the world alongside masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian.
Every visitor is assigned a strict two-hour slot — a policy that prevents overcrowding in the villa's relatively small but densely packed rooms. The experience is intimate and intense: Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, and David occupy rooms where you can walk around the sculptures and see the marble seemingly transform into flesh.
Caravaggio's Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Sick Bacchus, and Madonna of the Snakes hang in rooms adjacent to Bernini's sculptures — creating confrontations between Baroque painting and sculpture that Scipione deliberately orchestrated. Raphael's Deposition and Titian's Sacred and Profane Love anchor the painting collection.
The surrounding Villa Borghese park is Rome's largest public garden — free to enter and perfect for a walk before or after your timed slot. Booking weeks ahead is mandatory, especially in spring and autumn.
Best for: Art Lovers · History Enthusiasts
How long do you need at Galleria Borghese?
Allow 2 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Galleria Borghese without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Apollo and Daphne
📍 Room IV, Ground Floor
Bernini's marble captures the instant Daphne transforms into a laurel tree — her fingers becoming leaves, her toes sprouting roots, as Apollo's hand closes on her waist.
- 2
Pluto and Proserpina
📍 Room III, Ground Floor
Pluto's fingers pressing into Proserpina's thigh — the marble so thin and polished it seems to yield like flesh.
- 3
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
📍 Room VIII, Ground Floor
An early Caravaggio — a boy offering fruit with seductive directness, the leaves already wilting as a memento mori.
- 4
The Deposition
📍 Room IX, Ground Floor
Raphael's altarpiece showing Christ's body being lowered from the cross — a composition of extraordinary grace and controlled grief that influenced religious painting across Europe for centuries.
What are the must-see works at Galleria Borghese?
4 highlights that define the collection: Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, Boy with a Basket of Fruit and more.
Apollo and Daphne
Gian Lorenzo Bernini · 1622–1625
📍 Room IV, Ground Floor
Bernini's marble captures the instant Daphne transforms into a laurel tree — her fingers becoming leaves, her toes sprouting roots, as Apollo's hand closes on her waist. Walk around the sculpture to see the transformation from every angle.
Pluto and Proserpina
Gian Lorenzo Bernini · 1621–1622
📍 Room III, Ground Floor
Pluto's fingers pressing into Proserpina's thigh — the marble so thin and polished it seems to yield like flesh. Bernini was approximately 23 years old when he carved this, and it remains one of the supreme achievements of Baroque sculpture.
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Caravaggio · c. 1593
📍 Room VIII, Ground Floor
An early Caravaggio — a boy offering fruit with seductive directness, the leaves already wilting as a memento mori. One of six Caravaggios in the Borghese collection, the largest single holding of his work.
The Deposition
Raphael · 1507
📍 Room IX, Ground Floor
Raphael's altarpiece showing Christ's body being lowered from the cross — a composition of extraordinary grace and controlled grief that influenced religious painting across Europe for centuries.
Collections and highlights
- • Bernini sculpture — Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, David
- • Caravaggio paintings — six works including Boy with a Basket of Fruit
- • Raphael — The Deposition and Lady with a Unicorn
- • Titian — Sacred and Profane Love
- • Antonio Canova — Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix
- • Ancient Roman mosaics and floor inlays
- • 17th-century ceiling frescoes by Mariani and Savelli
- • Villa Borghese park — Rome's largest public garden
Tips for visiting Galleria Borghese
- 1.
Best time to visit
Book the first slot of the day (9 AM) for the calmest experience. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are easiest to book. Avoid Saturday slots which sell out weeks ahead.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Strict two-hour timed entry limits numbers to roughly 360 people at a time — the villa never feels overcrowded. Individual rooms can have 10–15 people around Bernini sculptures.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Mandatory advance booking at galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it — often sold out 2–4 weeks ahead. €13 plus €2 booking fee. Roma Pass accepted. No walk-up tickets.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Casina Valadier in the park for upscale dining; casual cafés near Piazza del Popolo (10-minute walk). No food inside the villa.
- 5.
Accessibility
Ground floor accessible; upper floor (paintings) requires stairs. No elevator. Contact the museum in advance for accessibility arrangements.
How do you get to Galleria Borghese?
- metro M2 to Spagna — 10-minute walk through Villa Borghese park (signposted)
- bus Routes 61, 160, 490, and 491 to Pinciana/Museo Borghese stop
- walk 20 minutes from Piazza del Popolo through the Villa Borghese park — a pleasant tree-lined approach
Address: Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy
Galleria Borghese: frequently asked questions
Are visits really limited to two hours?
Yes, every visitor is assigned a two-hour slot — booking ahead is mandatory.
Is the Borghese gardens park free?
Yes, the surrounding park is open to the public free of charge.
How long should I spend at Galleria Borghese?
Plan 2 hours for the highlights of Galleria Borghese. Our 4-stop route — Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, Boy with a Basket of Fruit and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is Galleria Borghese best known for?
Cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned the villa in 1605 to display his extraordinary collection of antique and contemporary art. The Italian state acquired the collection in 1902 and opened it as a public museum the following year. Key highlights include Bernini sculpture — Apollo and Daphne, Pluto and Proserpina, David, Caravaggio paintings — six works including Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Raphael — The Deposition and Lady with a Unicorn.
How do I get tickets for Galleria Borghese?
Admission: €13 standard admission. Book a timed-entry ticket on the official website before you go — popular slots sell out in peak season. Official site: https://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/
How far ahead must I book Galleria Borghese tickets?
Book 2–4 weeks ahead for weekday slots; 4–6 weeks for Saturdays and spring/autumn. Tickets release on the official website and sell out quickly. Third-party resellers charge significant markups — always book at galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it.
What happens if I miss my timed slot?
Your ticket is valid only for the assigned two-hour window. Late arrivals may be denied entry with no refund. Arrive 15 minutes early to collect tickets and use the cloakroom. Re-entry is not permitted once you leave.
Can I see the Bernini sculptures without booking?
No — all entry to the Galleria Borghese requires advance booking. There is no way to see the Bernini sculptures without a timed ticket. The park outside is free, but the villa and its collection are accessible only with a reservation.
Is Galleria Borghese open on Mondays?
No — Galleria Borghese is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are Galleria Borghese's opening hours?
Galleria Borghese is open Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
