Galleria Borghese Rome
This 'queen of all private collections' was built by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the most passionate and knowledgeable connoisseur of his day. Generally stated, the collection contains both sculptures and paintings.

Under the porch and in the great hall of the mansion that serves as the home to the collection, there are many fascinating Roman sculptures, including 12 marble busts of Roman emperors and a portrayal of Napolean's sister Paolina. But the works of Bernini and Caravaggio dominate this area. Bernini's Pluto and Proserpine stands here, as do Apollo and Daphne. The sensuous realism of Caravaggio's Madonna with Serpent was too much for the church, opening the way for it to be included in this collection.

Caravaggio is also represented among the paintings in the collection, as are Botticelli, Rubens, Veronese and others. This is truly a spectacular gallery, despite its relatively small size, and its setting within the garden makes it a wonderfully memorable experience.

Website www.galleriaborghese.it