DebitNM

Just finished our tour. We used the English tour available as you entered for 6.50€ and our guide was excellent.

As we entered one of the rooms, someone was taking non-flash pictures. The guide asked a guard about the picture taker and the guard replied that non flash photo is now ok. We had already checked our cameras.

Hopefully this helps others.

Cjar

Ohhh. Borghese was my favorite. We were there a few months ago and no photos for us. I am so jealous of those shutterbugs who get to take home photos. Guess, we'll have to go back now.

mama_mia

Hmmmm. I don't know how I feel about this. I would love to have taken some photos of Apollo and Daphne.

On the other hand, people snapping photos all over the place can be really intrusive. You feel like you have to work around THEM to avoid getting in their shots, thereby limiting your access to the painting or sculpture if you really want to look and contemplate.

kybourbon

Did your tour start upstairs or down?

DebitNM

We went in under the front steps and the tour started there. Across from the coat check, cafe area.

Alec

The official site still states no photo and video, so must be a very recent change.
http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/einfo.htm

DebitNM

Yes, I think so as our guide was very surprised and questioned the guard. I saw several people taking photos in different galleries and thought to myself, WTH? How rude. Didn't realized the change until our tour guide saw someone snapping photos and she said something to the guide, which was along the lines of "why aren't you stopping/saying something to them?"

kybourbon

I meant did the actual tour part start on the top floor and work it's way down or the opposite? I haven't taken a tour there, but it seems most people gravitate to the 1st floor and work their way up. I wondered if their own tour did the opposite to avoid the crowds.

Rostra

<<<On the other hand, people snapping photos all over the place can be really intrusive.>>>

My favorite which was actually rather comical was watching a man with a large video recorder in the old Acropolis Museum go thru the entire museum filming everything and reading the placards for the pieces.
Never did he stop nor take his eye from the viewfinder at the end he just walked-out with his wife and child, I guess he'll actually see the museum when he gets home.

DebitNM

Oh, sorry! She started on the loggia on first floor and moved about in a way to avoid groups of people as best as possible. We were on the first tour of morning and I think it being Sunday may have cut down on numbers. Several people were able to get tickets without reservations. The guide did a good job of moving us to places that were less crowded so I think she may have rerouted as needed. We didn't tour upstairs, she left about 30 minutes at end of tour for us to go upstairs or wherever we wanted.

mimipam

How far ahead did you reserve? Did you book the guide before your arrival or when you arrived? Could you have done as well on your own or was the tour better? I have been considering a private guide but your tour sounds good. Were there many people in your tour group? (Not quite 20 questions!). Thanks

DebitNM

We booked the entrance tickets late Feb for late March. Tour guides was very dodo, knowledgeable and moved us to the major works in effective manor. This is especially important since you on
You have 2 hours inside, and yes, they make you leave. (12 people at the first English tour at 9:10 am Sunday.) also important because if she saw a room was crowded, she simply changed the order of the tour and never missed a beat! We found all of the tour guides we used, whether prive, small group ones like this run by one site or commercial ones to be invaluable as a first time visitor.

We got there at 8:20 for our 9 am entrance time . They were sold out, allowing only 360 (?) in per each 2 hour session. There were apparently a few no shows to pick up reserved tickets, which allowed a handful of hopefuls in. We did several in Florence, Rome and Amalfi coast and Pompeii

Waited 10 minutes for lower door to open and were first to pick up our tickets. We then bought the tour tickets 6.5€ each. You must check everything except your wallet and apparently, now cameras. Then you simply wait for the tour which starts at 9:10

We had about 20 minutes free at end to see other thing(2nd floor wasn't covered on tour) or revisit your favorites.

cathies

DebitNM, off topic I know, but I'm keen to know if you are pleased with the apartment?

Thanks for the heads up re the Borghese, apart from anything else, I'd have forgotten to book.

DebitNM

We did, cathies. There were a few things, but there always are, right? The directions from the bus stop were less than ideal. We tried to call several times from train as we were arriving, but they never answered the phone. We finally got a hold of them after we got off the bus and had to wait a bit for them to arrive.

The apartment was clean, had some basic kitchen supplies. The steps up are old fashioned - cement, not much of a rise and turning. A bit trick with the luggage but doable and only level up.

It was a bit dark in the apartment; we are used to either more natural light or better lights in the apartment if the apt has smaller windows.

We had a slight mishap on our last night. A small lamp behind the bed got bumped and fell and broke. I emailed them first thing next morning and they were kind enough to say not to worry about it!

We did use their car service for the drive to airport yesterday for the journey home. It was well worth it. A taxi is 48€; this cost 52 and was a private, licensed car and driver.

kybourbon

>>>We booked the entrance tickets late Feb for late March. Tour guides was very dodo, knowledgeable and moved us to the major works in effective manor. This is especially important since you on<<<<

Thanks Debit. Autocorrect seems to have changed a few words (dodo?) and dropped some text at the end.

>>>It was a bit dark in the apartment; we are used to either more natural light or better lights in the apartment if the apt has smaller windows.<<<

I find many apartments/hotels in Europe use very low watt bulbs as electricity is so high. Some people buy a higher watt bulb or two and use while there.

aliced

Still glad I bought postcards and my favorite bookmark of
Apollo & Daphne (well preserved as mostly read via kindle...)