Villa Borghese Gardens

Villa Borghese Gardens form Rome's third-largest public park, a rolling landscape of shaded avenues, pine trees, formal gardens and open lawns laid out from 1605 for Cardinal Scipione Borghese as the grounds of his suburban villa, and opened to the public in the 19th century. Spread across the hills north of the historic centre, the park offers a green escape within walking distance of Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, and today draws Romans and visitors alike for jogging, cycling and family outings. Its best-known internal attraction is the Borghese Gallery itself, the cardinal's villa now housing Bernini sculptures and Caravaggio paintings, but the wider gardens hold plenty to explore beyond it: a small ornamental lake overlooked by the miniature Temple of Aesculapius, where rowing boats can be rented; the Pincio terrace at the park's southwestern edge, offering one of the finest panoramic views over Rome's rooftops and domes, especially at sunset; the Bioparco, Rome's zoo and conservation centre; the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna for 19th- and 20th-century Italian art; and a scattering of fountains, statues and a working water clock. Bicycles, including tandem and family models, and small electric karts can be rented at several points to cover the park's considerable size more easily. A relaxed visit takes an hour and a half to explore the immediate gardens, or half a day combining a walk, the lake and one of the museums. Entry to the park itself is free and it is open around the clock, though individual attractions inside keep their own hours and admission fees. Weekday mornings are quiet and shaded avenues stay cool even in summer, while weekends bring picnicking families and street performers near the main entrances.