The villa is located in the middle of the large park and if you have time you can spend here some time, relax, enjoy the nature, Rome and observe the locals. To get here from Westin Excelsior where I was staying, I went up Via Veneto to Porte Pinciano, the remains of the ancient city walls, walked across the street to the entrance into the park, turned right and walked straight until you hit the villa. You absolutely must have reservations. They are easy to make on the internet at this website. A month before you are going, request a two hour time slot on a particular day (which means that you have to plan that day’s itinerary), and you will receive an e-mail with the confirmation number. Bring this e-mail to the cashier and you will get the tickets, booking fee is only 1.55 euros. If you have no reservations, you will be extremely lucky if you can get in during the off season, during the season you will have to wait for 2-3 days to get in. Villa Giulia, the Etruscan museum, is also located in this park along with 3 other museums.

Villa Borghese and the garden was built in 1600’s for cardinal Scipione Borghese, and the villa has one of the most important collections of art in Europe. This is the place that makes you appreciate art more and more. When you buy your tickets and leave your bags downstairs, you walk up the stairs to the first floor and immediately get immersed into the atmosphere of beauty and wealth. The large hall that you start with has amazing frescoes on the ceiling and walls, statues in the corners and antique mosaics on the floor. But this just a start. Every room that you enter has treasures in it. Here you can find the most famous scultures of Bernini: Rape of Proserpine and David. Just look at how white marble comes alive in the curls of hair, the fingers going through the stone as if it were live flesh. The sculptures have so much life in them, I was truly astounded at what Bernini could do with marble. There are rooms here that have the 6 most famous Caravaggio paintings, two of which are of Bacchus with grape wines, Titian and Rafael paintings are surrounded by antique statues and Renaissance frescoes. Here you can also find the statue of Pauline Borghese, Napoleon’s sister who posed nude and not being a beautiful woman in her time is forever admired by the art lovers. There is a door that leads to the second floor, where more of the gorgeous frescoes, paintings and statues can be viewed. No photography is allowed.

If you're just looking for a rest and some great people watching, bring a snack of fresh fruit or some bread you picked up at the market that morning and lean back and enjoy. This is also a great spot for catching up on your personal travel journal or the book you've been reading.

While you're there, you can also check out the Borghese Gallery, housing Bernini's David and his statue of Apollo chasing Daphne. Reservations are required for the museum (in high season you are best to make them at least 3-4 days in advance), though any no-shows are released just after the top of the hour. Supposedly reservations are tightest at 11:00am and on the weekends.