Skip-the-Line Borghese Gallery Tour
Join a small group to see famous works by Bernini, Caravaggio, and Canova with an expert guide
In the early 1600s, Cardinal Scipione Borghese assembled one of Rome's most remarkable private art collections, filling his hilltop villa with masterpieces by Bernini and Caravaggio. This small-group tour gets you inside the Borghese Gallery with skip-the-line tickets to witness works spanning from Baroque icons to Canova's famous neoclassical sculptures. With an expert guide and personal audio headsets provided, you'll better understand the technique and stories behind each masterwork.
What You Get With This Tour
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Study Baroque masterpeieces
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Expert English-speaking guide
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Skip-the-line Borghese Gallery tickets
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Borghese Gallery guided tour
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Radio headsets
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Access to temporary exhibitions (when available)
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Bernini’s sculptures, Caravaggio’s paintings, Canova’s sculptures & Raphael's masterpieces
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Small group experience
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Guide tips
Tour Itinerary
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1
Your tour begins near the Borghese Gallery
Meet your guide near the entrance to the Borghese Gallery, a 17th-century villa tucked within Rome's Villa Borghese gardens. Pick up your radio and get ready to step inside one of Italy's most prized art collections. -
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Skip the line and enter the Borghese Gallery
Skip the long ticket lines and walk straight into security to enter the Borghese Gallery with your reserved group access. Outside, general admissions lines can take up to an hour. Inside, the frescoed ceilings and gilded halls await. -
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Marvel at Bernini's Baroque sculptures
Take in Gian Lorenzo Bernini's breathtaking masterpieces, including the dramatic Apollo and Daphne and The Rape of Proserpina. Listen as your guide shares fascinating stories about how Bernini brought marble to life with movement and emotion during the height of the Baroque period. -
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Explore Caravaggio's dramatic paintings
Next, you'll encounter the powerful works of Caravaggio, known for his dramatic use of light and shadow. See the introspective Sick Bacchus and the vibrant Boy with a Basket of Fruit, both reflecting the artist's turbulent genius and revolutionary style. -
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Encounter Canova's Neoclassical masterpieces
Continue to Antonio Canova's stunning sculptures, featuring the famous reclining Paolina Bonaparte. You'll appreciate the lifelike details and refined beauty that define Canova's departure from Baroque exuberance into Neoclassical grace. -
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Your tour finishes at the Borghese Gallery
After the guided tour concludes, you're welcome to stay and wander the galleries independently. Revisit a Bernini sculpture up close or take your time in front of a Caravaggio canvas before heading out into Rome.
Additional Information
Discover what to expect, what's included, and everything you need to know before booking.
Good to know:
Dress Code: Comfortable shoes are recommended since you will be standing for most of the tour. Only small fanny packs and purses (max 21 x 15 cm) are allowed in the museum. Larger bags/personal items must be left at your accommodation.
Accessibility: The Borghese Gallery is wheelchair accessible, but if you have any doubts about your mobility, please contact us beforehand so we can best cater to your needs.
Tour Changes: Some rooms of the Gallery may be closed to visitors due to renovation works. Your guide will ensure you see the best works available.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line entrance to the Borghese Gallery
Guided tour of the Borghese Gallery
Radios for a more intimate tour experience
Access to temporary exhibitions (when available)
Bernini’s sculptures, Caravaggio’s paintings, Canova’s sculptures, Raphael's masterpieces, and more
Small group experience
What to bring:
Valid ID
Comfortable shoes
Camera
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Customer Reviews
Very nice, guide was very knowledgeable
We initially signed up for this tour because we couldn’t get tickets without one, but it turned out to be such an amazing experience! Our tour guide, an art historian, had amazing insight into all the art we saw. She gave historical and personal context to both the pieces and the artists throughout the tour, and obviously had a lot of passion and care for what she was showing us. It’s beautiful to experience art through the eyes of a true devotee. She also gave us time to sit with each piece, never rushing us through. She even introduced us to the director of the museum, a friend of hers from college. We are so thankful to our lovely tour guide! We wish she had been with us at the other museums we visited in Rome!
We wanted to praise our wonderful guide who had to deal with not one but two people in the tour group having mobility and one medical issue during the tour. She was absolutely kind and clear about options with mobility, and gently coaxed the family of this person about stairs without compromising the rest of the group. Then another person in the tour wound up falling unexpectedly and needed medical attention, which she rushed to assist so that that personnel could take over and she could continue to move along our group. She had wonderful information and insight and we appreciated her light hearted nature despite these challenges! Brava for moving us through the museums and keeping us on track for a wonderful experience seeing these incredible works of art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
The Borghese Gallery is wheelchair accessible, but if you have any doubts about your mobility, please let us know beforehand so we can best cater to your needs.
What happens if it rains?
We run our Borghese Gallery tour rain or shine. If the weather is extremely bad and the Borghese Gallery is closed, we'll inform you as soon as possible.
Is there a dress code to enter the Borghese Gallery?
While there is not a specific dress code, you will be expected to be wearing shoes and a shirt to the Borghese Gallery. We also recommend wearing footwear you'll be comfortable walking in.
Does the Borghese Gallery ever experience sudden closures?
During adverse weather events or due to maintenance or safety reasons, Borghese Gallery may be closed unexpectedly. In case this happens, we will work with you to reschedule the tour or provide a full refund.
Is this tour family friendly?
Yes, all ages are welcome on our Borghese Gallery tour.
