Borghese in Rome
 

What do you love about the art at the Borghese Gallery? Is it a must see?

Amy,

If you are not really into sculpture - you probably will be after seeing some of Bernini's best. Yes, it's a must see.

It is a must see in my opinion. It is my favourite gallery in Rome.

not just the Gallery, but also its location ( the park - Vila Borghese)
is lovely.

Bernini's sculpture is very, very special. If you will EVER spend some time viewing sculture, this is the place to do it. If, you do not have a strong background in this kind of art, I would still suggest that you visit the Gallery. It was our favorite too.

See if you can get ahold of this DVD set (from your library perhaps) and be sure to watch the one on Bernini before you go to Borghese. It's divine. (The others int he set are wonderful too - especially Caravaggio.)

http://www.amazon.com/Simon-Schamas-.../dp/B000NTPG84

I am not a great museum or gallery person. I went to the Borghese Gallery in early Oct 2007. It was fantastic. I would recomend it to anyone visiting Rome. The park is one of my favorite places. Twice now (2002)(2007) my wife and I have gone there and just sat on a bench and watched the families enjoy themselves. A mother teaching her 7 year old son how to ride a bike and letting him fall down and get up again by himself. Little girls on skates having fun with their fathers. It is a brautiful setting.

Thanks so much for your replies. I am going to add this to my list of things to see.

Where is the best place to reserve tickets? At the Borghese website?
Thanks again everyone.

As I recall you should do it from the Borghese website.

Yes, reserve at the Borghese website.

And I'll pile on here and say yes, absolutely, positively go.

I'll join in the pigpile and say go for sure. Even if sculpture isn't entirely your bag (as it isn't really mine), it's really impressive). Probably the most impressive technical accomplishment IMHO was one piece whose name eludes me at the moment that has a woman transforming into a tree. Astonishing really.

Ideally, if you can get earlier reservations in whichever particular day, there's detailed cards in various languages in each room that explain the various works of art.

HTH

Me too! Me too!

Even though I am not a knowledgeable art lover, I LOVED the Borghese!

My only advise is to give yourself plenty of time to get there if you're walking. We had a difficult time finding it because we went in the wrong entrance.

Follow-up: take a cab.

knickerbocker, the sculpture you enjoyed is a favorite of mine also, it's Apollo and Daphne.

another great piece at the Borghese is Pluto and Persephone, where you can see Pluto's fingers digging into her thigh--incredible work, amazing what Bernini could do with marble

We took a tour with Context Rome for the Borghese because I was concerned about being limited to the two hours allowed. For us it was money well spent.

Deborah

I also took the Context Rome tour and I was very happy with it. The guide gave us so much more insight than if I'd just done it myself.

But one of the most breathtaking pieces of art I've ever seen is The Rape of Proserpina, which Deborah mentioned. I've never seen marble look so like flesh. Bernini was amazing.

Hi AMY, I am glad to see you will be going to the Borghese Gallery, it is a visit I believe you will always remember. And as others have said the Borghese Park is a treasure also..a bit of beautiful serenity in the middle of Rome.

AMY, here is a website from the International Herald Tribune regarding the Borghese Gallery. I don't know when you are going to Rome but even if you miss this exhibit it is still a wonderful and interesting article.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/06/arts/conway.php

Another scupture I really enjoyed was the woman on the divan. If I remember correctly it is of Paulina, wife of Borghese, sister of Napoleon. You can actually see the slight folds in the material of the divan.

wliwl, thanks for the tip on the Power of Art video:) I've reserved it at my local library

The Gallery and the park are my most favorite things in Rome. If the weather is nice, plan a picnic or reserve enough time to stroll through the park.