The Borghese gardens and villa is one of Minerva Tours Rome’s best recommendations for what to do in Rome.

With the Borghese’s beauty, art, views over the city, nature, treasure hunts and a boating lake, it really does have it all. It is Rome’s answer to Central Park in it’s enormity, and being an escape from the city, within the centre of town.

The Borghese park is a baroque green space, once owned by the Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who resided there in the 1500’s, creating a “villa of delights,” as he liked to define the property. The Villa property was bought by the Italian state in 1901 and thankfully opened to the public two years later.

These are some of our favourite things to do at Villa Borghese.

Boating lake

This 18th century boating lake boasts a mini temple dedicated to the God of Healing.

Feed the Birds and the Ducks on the lake

Gallery Borghese

Bernini, Titain, Raphael and Caravaggio art all under one roof in a unique Cardinal’s country residence.

Oh, and by the way, did we mention that the park is designed in the shape of a heart.

Bio Park

Marcella the zebra @ Borghese’s Bio park

Situated in the heart of Villa Borghese with around 200 animal species, including mammals, birds and reptiles, the Bio Park offers both young and old the possibility to come close to the nature world and have fun learning the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation. Inside the Bio Park, visitors can also find the Wildlife Rescue Center of LIPU (Italian Society for the Protection of Birds), a small hospital where can be seen, for example, tawny owls, barn owls, blackbirds being treated, etc.
Zebras are just some of the special animals to see at the Bio Park.

Train

The train takes you from the Bio Park to the gardens. A fun ride for the Bambini.

Afternoon espresso at the Casina Validier

Decadent momento for Espresso

Marine Horse Fountain

Beautiful Baroque masterpiece

A perfect photo momento.

Pincio Balcony

Breath taking balcony views above Rome’s domes and rooftops. Brilliant view of Michelangelo’s Dome.