Two floors, countless treasures, and centuries of Caravaggio’s drama and Bernini’s brilliance to discover. This tour review will walk you through the Borghese Gallery’s most famous artworks and share some tips to help you get the best out of your visit.

The Borghese Gallery in Rome is one of those places you just have to see if you’re into art—or even if you’re not. It’s home to an extraordinary collection of masterpieces, including Bernini sculptures, Canova artworks, and Caravaggio paintings. Tucked away in the lush Villa Borghese gardens, the museum is a feast for the eyes and a journey through centuries of genius, drama, and artistic flair.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the gallery as you’d experience it on a typical tour, showing you the 10 most famous artworks in the exact order you’ll encounter them. And if you’re here just to figure out what makes some of these paintings and sculptures so treasured, this guide works as an art review, too.

By the end, you’ll know where to go, what to look out for, and why these works of art are legendary.

Your Borghese Gallery tour will start on the first floor, where you’ll find a mix of Renaissance and Baroque paintings by some of history’s most celebrated artists. From there, you’ll make your way down to the ground floor, which showcases the iconic Canova and Bernini sculptures alongside Caravaggio paintings, giving you an up-close view of the drama and realism that defined their era.

1. Deposition by Raphael

(first floor, room IX)

Raphael’s Deposition, finished in 1507, is a stunning piece of Renaissance art that tells a deeply emotional story. It shows Christ’s body being carried to the tomb, surrounded by a group of mourners caught in a wave of grief. Mary Magdalene’s outstretched hands seem almost desperate, while the Virgin Mary collapses into John’s arms, overcome by sorrow. Every figure in the painting looks like in motion, each one reacting in a way that adds to the drama and humanity of the scene.
Interestingly, this painting was commissioned by Atalanta Baglioni to honor her son, who was killed in a violent family feud. That personal grief seems to pour out of every figure on the canvas.

What makes this painting so special is also the way Raphael balances emotion and structure. The composition guides your eye naturally across the canvas, and pulls you right into the moment, making you feel the weight of the story in a way that’s very powerful. This piece is also a turning point for Raphael, where his style starts to evolve into something more dynamic and expressive.

2. Sacred and Profane Love by Titian

(first floor, room II)

Titian’s Sacred and Profane Love, painted around 1514, is one of the most intriguing works in the Borghese Gallery. At first glance, it’s a beautifully balanced image of two women seated on either side of a marble fountain. But it’s the contrast between them that makes this painting fascinating. One woman is dressed in lavish, flowing garments, while the other is completely nude. The two figures are then connected by the fountain which reflects water, a symbol of life, purity, and continuity.

The painting itself has always had an air of mystery in the art community. No one knows its exact meaning, but many believe it’s an allegory of the balance between passion and virtue in love. It may even have been commissioned as a wedding gift, tying the themes of earthly and spiritual union to the celebration of marriage.

This is also one of Titian’s early masterpieces, created when he was just in his twenties. Even at this young age, his skill with light, color, and texture is astonishing. The layers of symbolism, combined with Titian’s technical brilliance, make this painting endlessly fascinating and one of the most talked-about pieces in the gallery.

3. The Abduction of Proserpina by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

(ground floor, room IV)

Bernini’s The Abduction of Proserpina is the kind of sculpture that makes you stop in your tracks and wonder how marble can look so alive. Created between 1621 and 1622, when Bernini was just 23 years old, this masterpiece captures the dramatic moment from Roman mythology when Pluto abducts Proserpina to the underworld. The tension in the scene is palpable: Pluto’s powerful grip, Proserpina’s desperate struggle to break free, and the tears streaming down her face, all carved with breathtaking detail.

One of the most famous features of the sculpture is the way Pluto’s fingers press into Proserpina’s flesh, as it’s so incredibly realistic that you’ll be tempted to double-check that it’s really marble. The swirling drapery and twisting poses make the sculpture feel as though it’s unfolding right in front of you.

Fun fact: This wasn’t just a triumph for Bernini’s artistic skills, it was also a bit of a PR move. The sculpture was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, whose taste and patronage were key in shaping Bernini’s career. Scipione wanted to show off the young sculptor’s talent, and he succeeded spectacularly.

4. Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

(ground floor, room III)

Bernini’s Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius, completed in 1619, is one of his earliest masterpieces and a perfect showcase of his ability to blend storytelling and sculpture. The work depicts a pivotal moment from Virgil’s Aeneid, where Aeneas flees the burning city of Troy, carrying his elderly father on his shoulders while leading his young son by the hand. It’s a scene packed with symbolism: Anchises represents the past, Aeneas the present, and Ascanius the future.

If you pay close attention to the faces, you’ll notice something interesting: Anchises’s face is said to be modeled after Bernini’s own father, Pietro Bernini, who was also a sculptor and heavily influenced Gian Lorenzo’s early work. It’s a subtle tribute to his mentor and a personal touch in this mythological scene.

This sculpture is an early triumph for Bernini and a preview of the genius that would define his entire career.

5. Sick Bacchus by Caravaggio

(first floor, room VIII)

Caravaggio’s Sick Bacchus is an unusual and fascinating self-portrait of the artist during his early years in Rome. The painting depicts the Roman god of wine and revelry, but unlike the typical portrayal of Bacchus as a spirited and extravagant figure, this version feels strikingly human. The pale, slightly greenish complexion, the flushed cheeks, and the weary expression suggest illness, giving the piece its nickname.

This work is believed to have been painted around 1593, while Caravaggio was recovering from an illness. The details are extraordinary: the wilted leaves of the grapevine crown, the delicate shimmer of the wine in the glass, and the folds of the toga draped over his shoulder, all rendered with an obsessive realism. It’s as if Caravaggio wanted to capture not just Bacchus but the fragility of human life itself.

What makes this painting so memorable is how it combines mythology and reality. This mix of vulnerability and divine symbolism was groundbreaking and became a hallmark of Caravaggio’s work.

6. David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio

(first floor, room VIII)

David with the Head of Goliath is one of the most famous paintings by Caravaggio, a dark and gripping masterpiece that truly leaves a lasting impression. Completed in 1609, it was created during a turbulent period of his life when he was on the run for murder. The painting depicts the severed head of Goliath, held aloft by a triumphant David, and what makes this piece particularly haunting is the face of Goliath, as it’s widely believed to be a self-portrait of Caravaggio himself.

The raw emotion and grim details draw you in immediately. Goliath’s face is slack, his eyes staring lifelessly, and the blood dripping from his neck is depicted with chilling realism. David, in contrast, appears calm but resolute, his expression suggesting a mixture of triumph and pity. The stark contrast between light and shadow—Caravaggio’s hallmark chiaroscuro technique—heightens the drama, making the figures leap out of the darkness. Scholars suggest the painting was perhaps intended as a plea for mercy from the Pope, as the severed head of Goliath (Caravaggio) symbolized his desire for forgiveness. The painting was likely intended to be sent as a gift, a way of expressing regret for his crimes.

7. Madonna and Child with St. Anne and St. John by Caravaggio

(first floor, room VIII)

Caravaggio’s Madonna and Child with St. Anne, also known as The Madonna of the Palafrenieri, is a striking and unconventional take on a religious subject. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary, her mother St. Anne, and the Christ Child in a moment of symbolic triumph over sin. At the center of the composition, young Jesus is shown stepping on the serpent, a direct reference to the defeat of original sin.

What’s immediately noticeable is Caravaggio’s bold realism. The Virgin Mary is depicted as a strong, natural-looking woman with no idealized features, while St. Anne is portrayed as an elderly, somewhat weathered figure, which is a sharp departure from the elegant, saintly images typically seen in Renaissance art.

Fun fact: this painting was originally commissioned for St. Peter’s Basilica, but it was rejected by church officials for being too unorthodox. The Virgin’s plain appearance and the earthy, naturalistic style were deemed unsuitable for such a holy setting. Instead, the painting found its way to the Borghese Gallery, where it has been celebrated for centuries for its emotional depth.

8. The Triumph of Divine Providence by Pietro da Cortona

(ground floor, Salone di Mariano Rossi)

This sprawling ceiling fresco is a visual explosion of color, movement, and beauty, covering the entire Salone di Mariano Rossi. It’s an incredible example of Baroque art at its most theatrical, designed to leave us awestruck as we tilt our heads to take it all in.

The fresco was commissioned by the Borghese family to celebrate their wealth and influence, and the theme couldn’t be more fitting. It depicts divine providence as a central force, surrounded by allegorical figures representing virtues, triumphs, and heavenly glory. The composition seems to defy gravity, with figures swirling upward into an illusionistic sky. Pietro da Cortona’s mastery of perspective creates the effect of the ceiling opening up, drawing your gaze toward the heavens.

This fresco was in many ways a statement of power. The Borghese family wanted to assert their place among Rome’s elite, and what better way to do it than with a ceiling that rivals the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel? It was also a technical feat, requiring incredible precision to achieve the three-dimensional illusion that makes the figures seem to float above you.

9. Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix by Antonio Canova

(ground floor, room I)

Antonio Canova’s Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix is one of the most elegant and famous sculptures in the Borghese Gallery. Completed in 1808, it portrays Pauline Bonaparte, the sister of Napoleon, reclining on a chaise lounge in the guise of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. With her graceful pose and gaze, she exudes confidence and sophistication, making it clear that this sculpture is as much about Pauline’s personality as it is about mythological symbolism.

Pauline famously insisted on being portrayed as Venus, and Canova sculpted her with exquisite attention to detail, from the soft drapery of her garment to the smooth, polished surface of her skin. The chaise lounge itself is carved with intricate patterns, and the apple in her hand is a nod to Venus’s role in the mythological Judgment of Paris, where she was deemed the most beautiful of all goddesses.

The sculpture caused a bit of a scandal in its time. Pauline’s decision to pose semi-nude was considered daring (if not outright scandalous), but she brushed off the criticism. Another interesting detail: the sculpture was originally designed to rotate, allowing viewers to admire it from every angle, a testament to Canova’s belief that sculpture should be experienced in the round.

10. Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne is the grand finale for many visitors and is considered the most important and famous work of art at the Borghese Gallery. Completed in 1625, it depicts the climactic moment from Ovid’s Metamorphoses when the nymph Daphne, fleeing the god Apollo, begins to transform into a laurel tree to escape him. The dramatic tension is palpable as Apollo reaches out to grasp her, only to find her fingers stretching into branches and her feet rooting into the ground.

What’s astonishing about this work is the technical skill Bernini demonstrates in turning marble into something so delicate and dynamic. Daphne’s hair and fingers seem impossibly thin and light, while the folds of Apollo’s cloak ripple as if caught mid-chase. Every detail, from the texture of the bark overtaking Daphne’s skin to the urgency in Apollo’s expression, feels alive and in motion.

The sculpture was meant to be viewed from a specific angle, so as you walk around it, you’ll notice how Bernini carefully designed the piece to reveal its narrative step by step. By the time you reach the back, you’ll see Daphne fully transforming into a tree, making it one of the most cinematic sculptures in art history.

‘Apollo and Daphne’ is famous not just for its storytelling but for its ability to make viewers forget they’re looking at marble. As a finale to the gallery’s tour, it’s nothing short of breathtaking.

Buying Tickets

The Borghese Gallery has a strict ticketing system, and buying tickets in advance is highly recommended, if not mandatory. Tickets can be purchased online through the official website or authorized resellers, as they sell out quickly. Unfortunately, Borghese Gallery tickets cannot be usually purchased at the door, so don’t plan to show up without a reservation. There are occasional, rare opportunities to secure last-minute tickets on site due to cancellations or no-show, but it’s not something you should count on.

Tickets are typically released up to 2-3 months in advance, and they sell out fast, especially during peak tourist seasons. There are different ticket types, including general admission at 15€, reduced-price tickets for EU citizens aged 18-25. The entry is free for children under 18, or for EU citizens on the first Sunday of each month. Guided tour options are also available if you prefer a more in-depth experience. Be aware that entry is limited to a specific two-hour time slot, so plan accordingly.

Guided Tour vs. Self-Guided Tour

The Borghese Gallery is compact, with just two levels: the first floor housing most of the paintings and the ground floor showcasing sculptures, plus the Caravaggio collection. It’s relatively easy to navigate, but there’s a notable downside for self-guided tours: the gallery doesn’t provide written explanations for the rooms or artworks. This means you’ll need to rely on your own research, an audio guide, or an app to get the most out of your visit. On the upside, a self-guided tour lets you explore at your own pace. You can linger in front of works that fascinate you and skip others if you’d like.

A guided tour, on the other hand, removes much of the guesswork. Professional guides provide detailed explanations of the collection, offering historical context, fun anecdotes, and insights into the gallery’s layout. In nearly every Borghese Gallery review, visitors who chose a guided tour mention how much they appreciated the structured approach, especially with the limited two-hour time slot—and I have to agree. Having experienced a guided tour myself, I found it invaluable for understanding the collection’s highlights and history without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

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