It is not only the largest park in Rome, spread over six kilometres in circumference, but also one of the most picturesque. Created by Cardinal Cafarelli Borghese in the early 17th century, the park was completely redesigned in the late 18th century by the architects Asprucci and redecorated by the artist Unterberger, but in the early 19th century the architect Luigi Canina gave it the appearance it has today. In 1902, the park was renamed in honour of King Umberto I, who donated it to the city of Rome. However, despite the official name, the park is still known as Villa Borghese, after its founder.
One of the most famous collections of sculpture and paintings is housed in the elegant building known as the Casino Borghese, which was commissioned by Scipione Borghese and built by architect Giovanni Vasanzio between 1613 and 1615. The museum is located on the ground floor and occupies a portico, a salon and eight rooms that house many masterpieces by Bernini and Canova, as well as examples of marble sculpture from the ancient period. The Borghese Gallery is located on the first floor and includes an extensive entrance hall and twelve rooms, which contain a collection of truly priceless paintings by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Andrea del Sarto, Bernini, Pietro da Cortona, Titian, Veronese and many other great artists.
The National Museum of the Etruscans is located in Villa Giulia, the summer residence of Pope Julius III. The museum's collection includes a terracotta statue of Apollo from Veio, a collection of ceramics and gold pieces by A. Castellani, a collection of Etruscan bronzes, and a famous Etruscan sarcophagus depicting a married couple. Nearby is the Gallery of Modern Art, where paintings and sculptures of the masters of the XIX century are presented.
Villa Borghese has a hippodrome, a zoo, horse racing and equestrian carabinieri competitions, and on an island in the middle of an artificial lake there is a small temple of Aesculapus.
