Cardinal Scipione Borghese commissioned both the Villa Borghese itself and many of the great works still on display in its gallery. Works by Bernini, Caravaggio and Titian remain in their original settings, as envisioned by the Cardinal, a fiercely determined collector. Strictly controlled entry to the Villa and Gallery can make booking difficult and complicated. On this fully-guided tour you’ll hear more about Cardinal Borghese’s quest to complete his collection, and the stories behind the artworks themselves, including Bernini’s ‘Apollo and Daphne’, Canova’s ‘Pauline Bonaparte’, Caravaggio’s ‘St. Jerome’ and Raphael’s ‘The Deposition’. Your guide will be an English-speaker and an expert on the collection, and audio headsets ensure you’ll hear every word they say.

Included in this tour is a visit to the Borghese Gardens: once the Cardinal’s private park, now a favorite spot for locals to relax among sculptures, plants and water features and get away from it all.