Not to Be Missed
BORGHESE GALLERY
Located amidst the greenery of the favourite public park of the Romans, the Borghese Gallery is an authentic artistic treasure chest, the result of the passion for art of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who in the early 1600s had the villa built on the suburban property donated to him by his uncle, Pope Paul V, with the specific purpose of housing his art collection. In order to enjoy it fully, it is important to enter the villa with a perception of the surrounding park and open air in a wonderful blend of art and nature, that we now recognize as typical of Rome. Once again, as at the Vatican Museums, we find the correspondence between the “container” and what it “contains”, in which the artistic value of the individual works is enhanced by the decorative splendour of the rooms in which they are displayed. It is important to bear in mind that the Borghese Gallery originated as a private collection and that the works and their display are not the result of didactic criteria (period, subject), but rather reflect the taste and intentions of its former owners. Do not miss the series of sculptures made for the cardinal by young Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Eneas, the Rape of Proserpine, Apollo and Daphne, and David), that seem to invite us to participate in what is happening to them, Titian’s Sacred and Profane Love, Caravaggio’s masterpieces and the lovely Princess Paolina Borghese, Napoleon’s favourite sister, portrayed by Canova as Venus. The Borghese Cardinal was famous above all for his capacity to discover new talents and for his methods in acquiring the works of art he wished to own, which on some occasions were not exactly lawful. He did not hesitate to have the Deposition by Raphael stolen from a church in Perugia and he had painter Domenichino imprisoned because he did not want to give him a painting commissioned to him by another cardinal
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Cultural Info
2500 years of history have made Rome one of the most beautiful town in the world and certainly a place you can't miss! Rome is more than just a site for tourists, it is a real experience. Thanks to its "open" nature, the city has preserved in the years a special charm. Rome welcomes its visitors with its noise, its elegant buildings, its churches, its monuments and its people. Rome is a chaotic and rich city, where buildings of today's political leadership and ruins of its past splendour are next to each other, just close by to old houses, handy-craft shops and haute coûture boutiques with latest fashions. In Rome, if you turn round the corner, you will find a statue, an obelisk, a renaissance fountain which seems to have become a shadow of its former self. But what most impresses of Rome is the lack of care and importance given to its treasures: like an elegant old lady who makes not show of her jewels. This is why Rome is an experience and a never ending discovery. You cannot think to see "what there is to see" simply reading a good tourist guide: relax yourself, take your time to discover its hidden charm and whatever might attract your attention wandering through it. While walking you will probably understand our deep-rooted culture: your stay has now become an unforgettable experience.
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