Rome Holiday Attraction: Villa Borghese

Rome resembles many big metropolises because it is always alive with outdoor things to do. So when you are a tourist in Rome, the pace can be non-stop, which can make you wish you could find a quiet and peaceful place to relax . And the spot that fits that description perfectly is the Villa Borghese.

The 148 acres of this tranquil setting is not the largest retreat of its kind but you will find museums there, along with a beautiful artificial lake and aviaries to enjoy as well. In the 16th century Cardinal Borghese set about to create a beautiful villa based on the geometric model of Versailles. The Cardinal even provided the initial sketch that was used to construct the villa that is at the heart of the compound.

An artificial lake, which contains a small Ionic temple was added towards the end of the 18th Century.

The Cardinal was clearly a lover of bird watching because in the gardens where gazelles once grazed, he built beautiful aviaries where he could enjoy the presence of exotic birds like peacocks and ostriches.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Villa Borghese was handed over to the city of Rome for a public park. Since then much has been done to improve the location, including the addition of a number of temples, many artistic fountains and many fine sculptures just as can be found in the city. When admiring the sculptures around the grounds, don't be surprised if you find the original Tritons exactly like the ones you saw at the Fountain of the Moor in the Piazza Novona. These sculptures at Villa Borghese are the originals for that fountain. The ones you see in the Piazza are replicas that were made in the 19th century.

Villa Borghese has now been a public park for a century and it has become a wonderful place to discover a wide variety of delights. For example, depending on the time of year you visit, you may find horse jumping contests going on at Siena Square. Also, at the Piazza di Siena Amphitheater on any given evening you may find an outdoor concert about to be given. If the music isn't to your liking, wander over to the botanical garden and get lost in the plant life. But as you leave the gardens, be on the look out for a stunning example of 18th century baroque architecture in the arch named 'Arco di Settimio Severo'.

If you get a bit faint from hunger, not to worry, there is a small bar in the center of the Villa where you can find tasty and authentic Italian pasta or just sit back and recuperate your energies over a Campari. And when you are ready to move on, not far from the cafe are the pavilions that were shown at the 1911 Word Exposition.

Of the many great things to see and do at the Villa Borghese, probably the museums draw the most attention.

An outstanding example is The Museo e Galleria Borghese which has a number of wonderful Bernini sculptures who is the artist who had so much influence in creating many of the famous fountains in the city. Here you can view some of Bernini's indoor work including Abduction of Proserpina by Pluto. But this gallery also has a good assortment of works from many great Renaissance masters including Raphael and Titian.

The original summer residence for Pope Julius II that he used in 1553 can be found in the Villa Giulia. The name of that villa, the Museo Nazionale Etrusco lets us know that a tour of the museum will let us see some fascinating Etruscan art works that were found in excavations in the hills that surround Rome.

To gain entrance to the Villa Borghese, simply travel to the north end of the Spanish Steps. The actual entrances can be found above the Piazza del Poppolo and the Porta Pinciana but near the end of the Via Veneto. The Villa Borghese is an ideal spot to save for that time in your trip when you need a place of quiet to enjoy some peace and respite from a very active day in the city. But be sure you allocate several hours when you are there to see and experience all that the Villa has to offer.

Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com

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