Rome
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Small-Group Borghese Gallery Tour with Bernini, Caravaggio, and Raphael

Badge of ExcellenceRome, Italy
  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Explore the Villa Borghese's meticulously curated collection during this small-group tour in Rome. Stroll through twenty rooms of the 17th-century palace with an art historian guide. See breathtaking works by masters like Caravaggio, Bernini and Raphael, including Bernini's 'Apollo and Persephone' and Caravaggio's 'St John the Baptist'. Admire the villa's marble architecture and ceiling frescoes as you listen to engaging commentary from your guide. This small-group tour is limited to 15 people or less.
  • Tour the Villa Borghese with an art historian guide
  • Enjoy the uncrowded atmosphere of the intimate museum
  • See works by Carvaggio, Bernini and Raphael
  • Learn about the history of the building and Cardinal Borghese's collection

What's Included

  • Pre-reserved, all-inclusive Borghese Gallery Tickets
  • Expert, English-Speaking guide
  • Small groups of 10 people or Fewer
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Borghese Gallery and Museum
    Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5, 00197 Roma RM, Italy

    Directly in front of the Galleria Borghese's double staircase, in the little piazza.The easiest way to reach this is by taxi, but it is also walkable from the top of the Spanish Steps, taking the Metro stop "Spagna," ascending the staircase, taking a left, then following the signs through the park towards the Galleria. This is about a 20 minute walk.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your way to the Villa Borghese to meet your small group and tour guide in front of the museum's double staircase. 

Pre-reserved tickets and the museum's policy of letting groups in at 2-hour intervals means the space is never overcrowded. Upon entry, admire the architecture and opulent decoration of this museum, once only open to royals and dignitaries. Built in the 1600s by Cardinal Scipione Borghese to house his impressive art collection, the space is now one of the most intimate museums in Rome. 

Follow your guide on a tour of the collection's highlights, including Canova's 'Pauline Bonaparte', Carvaggio's 'John the Baptist' and Bernini's 'the Rape of Proserpina'. Rely on your guide's knowledge of the collection to gain insight and interpretation in to the art's history and folklore. Hear about the Cardinal's personal quirks and how they informed the collection, as well as some history about the building itself. The small-group nature of the tour means you have the opportunity to ask questions and get some personalized attention from your guide. 

Your tour ends back at the original starting point.

Galleria Borghese

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Please note that the second floor of the Borghese Gallery is not wheelchair accessible.
  • The tour meeting time is 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds or re-bookings can be provided for late arrivals or no shows after tour commencement or departure.
  • The Borghese museum does not allow any bags, purses into the galleries. All such items must be checked before entering the museum, which your guide will help you with upon arrival.
  • Walks / Devour complies with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up-to-date information.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.5
126 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 126 reviews
An Exceptional Gallery and an Exceptional Tour
James_M, Apr 2024
The Borghese gallery strictly limits the number of visitors into the gallery and that allows for very close examination of its masterworks. The intimate nature of the place coupled with our guides insightful descriptions of the history and background associated with each piece, made the time spent here very valuable. It made me want to learn more.
Excellent
sue_C, Apr 2024
The guide was amazing.. he brought so much knowledge and passion that every price came alive !! Enjoyed the tour even if we couldn’t access the 2nd floor.
Galleria Borghese wonders
Michele_R, Oct 2023
Our guide Francesco with Liv Tours was very knowledgeable on the artwork in the gallery. We had a full two hours of informative instruction starting in the second floor then proceeding to the sculptures on the first. Save some time after your tour to visit the gardens…the park is immense.
Marta was excellent. She...
Lynda_G, Oct 2023
Marta was excellent. She actively engaged all members of our group by asking our opinions on various pieces. No answer was wrong and she even admitted to changing her mind several times regarding the same question over the years. The histories of various pieces were not dull and boring, but rather alive with intrigue, mystery and emotion. The ultimate effect was to make the art more approachable to the untrained as well as trained observer, increasing everyone’s appreciation of these incredible sculptures and paintings.
Frank gave an excellent tour
Scott_A, Oct 2023
The lectures describing the lives of the artists and the history behind the art. We were also told what to look for in the details of the art. Very educational and enjoyable.
Must see collection of...
Terese_M, Oct 2023
Must see collection of sculpture & art. Knowledgeable guide to educate & help you appreciate what you are seeing.
Fantastic art tour!
Amy_H, Oct 2023
Siri was our guide and did an amazing job. She is clearly deeply knowledgeable about the gallery and the art, and her love of the art is infectious. The stories she was able to tell about many of the pieces really helped us appreciate them. Thanks to Siri for a very memorable tour!
A brilliant tour!
Richard_G, Sep 2023
Our guide was Anna and it was the most exhilarating informative. Two hours I could have imagined. She took us through room by room explaining the brilliant work of Bernini and Caravaggio as well as many other wonderful works on display in the Borghese gallery. I am awestruck at how much she imparted in a couple of hours. Thank you, Anna!
Excellent
Kathia_A, Sep 2023
The guide was very knowledgeable and described what we were seeing and the intention of the artist. She also provided details about the artist’s life.
Surprisingly engaging tour!
Rainiel_G, Aug 2023
Our guide, Sev, made this tour an unforgettable experience. He is so knowledgeable about the collection, but even better, he clearly enjoys sharing what he knows. We felt like we were in the art history class we had always wanted to take and didn't even know it. Sev interpreted what we saw in a friendly and engaging way. The two hours flew by, and I can appreciate how amazing is the art we saw by Bernini, Caravaggio and Raphael and he also explained about the Borghese collection and Villa history as a whole. Highly recommend!
Art from a new prospective
Liveforetravel, Aug 2023
Our guide Emily was very passionate about the art and history of this place. She got us to slow down and really look at the art in a different way. I would highly recommend her and Viator.
Fantastic deep dive into the best parts of the Borghese collection
Patrick_H, Jul 2023
Our guide was so knowledgeable and passionate about the art in the museum it was infectious. She created a wonderful experience that left me and my son with a much deeper impression of everything we saw and something we will always remember together.
Excellent tour . Amazing collection . Not to be missed
Kerryn_W, Jun 2023
Francesco was a fabulous guide with perfect balance of knowledge & humour . Would highly recommend this tour . We feel enriched by our experience. Thankyou
Walks operator never showed up
Darren_A, Jun 2023
Tour guide never showed up. Walked back to hotel after waiting 25 minutes in the heat outside at the specified meeting location.
Amazing!
Donnae_L, Apr 2023
Our guide Christina was fantastic! Her passion and appreciation for the pieces of work in the gallery was so inspiring. The museum and gallery itself was simply amazing. Highly recommend this tour. Take a little extra time and enjoy the garden as well!
Great tour experience
Thomas_A, Oct 2022
Unlike other museums in Rome this one is crowded making it a more pleasing experience. Our tour guide was very good and extremely Knowleable about the museum’s collection
Great Tour with Knowledgeable Guide
Nicholas_G, Oct 2022
Learned a lot about the many masterpieces, the artists, and the history/lives of the art and artists.
The best tour I have had in Rome! Fantastic!
EkaterinaB, Aug 2022
We were very fortunate to have Guido as our tour guide. He was simply amazing, very knowledgeable and passionate about the collection exhibited at Borghese Gallery. Highly recommend!
The most beautiful museum
Arthur_G, Jul 2022
A must see! The most beautiful museum there ever was. Sev was an awesome guide. He explained everything really well and was super friendly. Highly recommend.
Small group means 20 people… false advertising!
Candace_C, Jul 2022
The guide was terrible. It was not a small group. The headphones did not work and were filled with static. He was American and provided few historical details about Bernini and the Pope. He kept emphasizing nude sensual women, their breasts and referencing how women were under the control of men at this time. This is the worst Viator experience I have ever had.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Dear Candace, Thanks for your review. We are sorry the tour did not meet your expectations. I want to get in touch with you personally to investigate what happened. Our company takes our guest's feedback very seriously as we aim to provide the best experience possible. We care for each of our clients and you are very important to us. We are very disappointed to know we let you down in this way. This is why we want to investigate and make things right. All our guides are carefully selected based on their experience, knowledge, and charisma. We were surprised by your comments because we never received this type of complaint before. As you booked through one of our partners, I have no way of contacting you directly now because it passed more than a month since your tour. Please contact us at feedback@walks.org. We will be happy to help you and see options available for you. Kind regards, Jhonas.
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From $77.64

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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