Villa Borghese gardens, Landscape garden in Rome, Italy
Villa Borghese is a landscape garden in Rome that spreads over gentle hills shaded by pines, oaks and cypresses. Wide avenues lead to temples, fountains and open squares where paths cross and benches invite rest.
Cardinal Scipione Borghese had vineyards transformed into a park from 1605 and built a villa to house his art collection. In the 18th century the gardens were reworked in the English style and later handed over to the city.
The name recalls the Borghese family, who kept their collection here and opened the paths for walkers. Romans now use the park for jogging, picnicking and meeting friends, especially on weekends.
The park has several entrances around its perimeter, so you can enter from different neighborhoods. Footpaths are mostly flat and well kept, making it easy to walk through even when you have little time.
A small lake in the park has an island with a replica Greek temple that can only be seen from the outside. Many visitors overlook the aviary, a historical cage for exotic birds that now stands empty.
Location: Municipio I
Inception: 1605
Founders: Scipione Borghese, Paul V
Official opening: 1903
Address: 00197 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy
Phone: +39060608
Website: http://sovraintendenzaroma.it/i_luoghi/ville_e_parchi_storici/ville_dei_nobili/villa_borghese
GPS coordinates: 41.91365,12.48510
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:04
Rome preserves more than 2,000 years of architectural history within its city limits, maintaining ancient temples and amphitheaters beside Renaissance churches and Baroque piazzas. The Roman Forum displays ruins from the first century BC through the fourth century AD, including government buildings and temples that formed the administrative heart of the Roman Empire. The Pantheon demonstrates Roman engineering with its concrete dome, while the Colosseum remains the largest ancient amphitheater ever built. The city evolved through subsequent centuries as papal patronage transformed medieval Rome into a showcase of Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture. The Vatican holds significant religious and artistic collections, including the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and Saint Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church building. Throughout the historic center, public squares like Piazza Navona preserve the footprint of ancient Roman structures while displaying Baroque fountains by Bernini and Borromini. The Trevi Fountain draws thousands of visitors daily to its 18th century facade, and the Spanish Steps connect different elevation levels of the city. Rome's neighborhoods maintain traditional Italian life around these monuments, with restaurants, shops and residences occupying buildings from various historical periods.
Rome joins history with modern photography. The city spreads across several hills and holds buildings from different centuries, from ancient ruins to baroque churches and fountains. Photographers find subjects on every street corner, from large public squares to narrow alleys in old neighborhoods. The Colosseum and Roman Forum show the building techniques of ancient Rome. Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona present baroque design with flowing water and sculptures. The Spanish Steps serve as a meeting point where people rest on the steps and watch the activity below. The Pantheon has stood for nearly 2,000 years and impresses through its dome with a circular opening at the center. In Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica rises with its tall dome, and the Vatican Museums contain long galleries filled with artworks. Castel Sant'Angelo stands by the Tiber River and offers a wide view over the city's rooftops from above. Trastevere sits on the other side of the river and shows a different face of Rome: small squares, narrow streets with laundry lines between buildings, and restaurants with tables on the pavement. The church of Santa Maria in Trastevere has a golden mosaic on its facade that glows in the evening light. Campo de' Fiori is a market in the morning with vegetables and flowers, and in the evening the square fills with people. Via Margutta is a quiet street with galleries and plants on the building walls. The Aventine Keyhole shows St. Peter's Dome through a small opening in perfect framing. The Janiculum hill and Villa Borghese Gardens offer green spaces for walking and views over the city. Caracalla Baths and the Appian Way show Rome outside the center, where ancient structures stand in the landscape.
Italy preserves architectural evidence from two thousand years of history. In Rome, Roman temples stand beside Renaissance palaces, while Florence houses museums and cathedrals from the 15th century. Venice developed its canal system over centuries as a response to its lagoon environment. In the Campania region, Mount Vesuvius shapes the landscape, and the ancient city of Pompeii has remained preserved under volcanic ash since the 1st century.
Apollo and Daphne
567 m
Pincian Hill
498 m
Bioparco
426 m
Silvano Toti Globe Theatre
99 m
Temple of Aesculapius
238 m
Porta Pinciana
538 m
Muro Torto
551 m
Carlo Bilotti Museum
146 m
Museo Pietro Canonica
199 m
Casa del cinema
372 m
Casina di Raffaello
149 m
Pinciano obelisk
548 m
Temple de Diane
229 m
Fountain of Valle Giulia
412 m
Equestrian statue of Umberto I
348 m
Goethe monument in Rome
255 m
Santa Maria Immacolata a Villa Borghese
142 m
Monument to Nizami Ganjavi in Rome
422 m
Horti Aciliorum
167 m
Monument to Henryk Sienkiewicz in Rome
419 m
Teatro dei burattini San Carlino
414 m
Propilei egizi
299 m
Valle dei platani
329 m
Cinema dei Piccoli
359 m
Obelisk in Villa Medici gardens
559 m
Viale del Muro Torto
407 m
Leccio
263 m
Cedro del Libano
215 mReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes