Rome Villa Borghese, Parioli, And Flaminio

Villa Borghese, Park bordered by Vle. Trinita dei Monti and V. Porta Pinciana. (☎06 32 16 564) The Villa Borghese sits north of Termini and provides a needed respite from the city's bustle. Mostly flat pathways cut through gardens, lawns, and various museums, including the Galleria Borghese, the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia, and the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, which actually sits right outside the park. Though most visitors choose to stroll or picnic in the park, there is also a bike rental stand just beyond the entrance of the Galleria Borghese. A: Spagna or Flaminio. There are multiple entrances to the park: Porta Pinciana, Piazzale Flaminio, Vle. Belle Arti, V. Mercadante, and V. Pinciana. Gardens free. Bike rental €10 per day or €4 per hr. Visit www.ascolbike.com for more information. Gardens open daily Apr-Aug 7am-9pm; Sept 7am-8pm; Oct-Dec 7am-6pm; Jan-Feb 7am-6pm; Mar 7am-8pm. Wheelchair access. Has internet.
Galleria Borghese, Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5 (☎06 84 16 542; www.galleriaborghese.it), While the beautiful gardens in which it sits are reason enough to make the trek up to this fabulous museum, the Galleria Borghese is a must-see while in Rome. Inside the villa, Cardinal Scipione's collection includes such standouts as Bernini's David and the dynamic Apollo and Daphne, Caravaggio's gruesome David with the Head of Goliath,and other masterpieces by Correggio, Raphael, Rubens, Titian, and Veronese. Note that reservations are required in advance of your visit to the galleria. They are easy to make over the phone or online, but you won't be able to wander in on a whim. On par with the Vatican museums and less crowded because of the required reservation, the Galleria Borghese is a true Roman gem. Enter on V. Pinciana, near V. Isonzo. Proceed up Vle. dell'Uccelleria for about 5min. Reservations required; call ☎06 855 5952 or visit www.ticketeria.it. €10.50, EU citizens ages 18-25 €7.25, EU citizens under 18 and over 65 €4. Tours €6, ages 9 and under free. 90min. audio tour (available in English) €5. Open Tu-Su 9am-7pm. Reservation phone line open M-F 9am-6pm, Sa 9am-1pm. Ticket office closes 30min. before museum. Guided tours available in English at 9:10am and 11:10am Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Vle. delle Belle Arti 131 (☎06 32 29 81; www.gnam.beniculturali.it), The Galleria d'Arte Moderna is not only a beautiful building but one that contains a superb collection of art dating from the past 200 years—certainly a relief to visitors who've spent days touring the sights of Ancient Rome. The museum's light-filled central room for greeting visitors offers an impressive display of works by Balla, Giacometti, Klee, Klimt, and Mondrian. Proceeding immediately ahead, you will reach the most contemporary of the rooms, which is crowned with a hanging sculpture by Calder and adorned with a number of white and black sculptural paintings by Castellani. The rest of the museum is well-organized by century and period, starting with works by Cezanne, Courbet, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh and heading into the 20th century with a huge collection of Balla, Boccioni, De Chirico, Miro, Modigliani, and Morandi. Make sure to pass through famed modernist Marcel Duchamp's collection of ready-mades, including the famous Urinal. From Vle. del Giardino in the Villa Borghese, veer right and exit the park onto Vle. delle Belle Arti. Museum is on the right. €8, EU citizens age 18-25 €4, ages under 18 and over 65 free. Audio tour (available in English) €4. Open Tu-Su 8:30am-7:30pm. Ticket office closes at 7:15pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Pincio, Near the park entrance off P. del Popolo. Though the summit has a few sights of its own, the real motivation for climbing up this hill is the stunning vista of the P. del Popolo you will be able to view from its top. The most prominent monuments visible from the peak are the obelisk in the center of the piazza, the churches S. Maria dei Miracoli and S. Maria di Montesanto, and, looming in the distance, St. Peter's Basilica. Once you've absorbed the panorama, take some time to walk through the gardens and check out the Idroconometro, a clock powered by the water flowing through a group of fountains. The fastest way to reach the top is from the steep ascent near P. del Popolo. A more scenic but slower route is through the Villa Borghese itself around V. Veneto. Free. No wheelchair access.
Piazza Barberini, At the intersection of V. Tritone, V. Sistina, V. Barberini, and V. della Quattro Fontane At the center of this especially busy piazzasit the lovely Fontana Tritone and Fontana delle Api, two Bernini fountains popular with pigeons and people. The piazzamay not be the most restful spot, as loud cars constantly stream by, so consider heading inside to the Palazzo Barberini just down the street at V. delle Quattro Fontane 13, which holds the National Gallery of Arte Antica. Even if you don't venture inside, the courtyard's tall palm trees and the building's beautiful facade are worth a visit. At the Chiesa della Immacolata Concezione, the Capuchin Crypt (V. Veneto 27 ☎06 48 71 185; www.cappuciniviaveneto.it.) contains an awesome variety of human skulls and bones. A: Barberini. Call Crypt open M-W 9am-noon and 3-6pm, F-Su 9am-noon and 3-6pm. Palazzo open Tu-Su 8:30am-7:30pm. Wheelchair access.
Giardino Biologico, Piazzale del Giardino Zoologico 1. Entrance at Lungarno Zoologico. (☎06 36 08 211; www.bioparco.it or www.listicket.it) Though a bit expensive, this biopark, located 5min. from the Galleria Borghese, is a great spot for children and families. Its collection of animals includes giraffes, lions, and an impressive collection of scaled critters within its huge Reptile House. Walking from the Galleria Borghese, continue on Vle. dell' Uccellieria and veer left onto Vle. del Giardino. Park is on the right. €12.50, disabled, under 12, and over 60 €10.50, children under 1m tall free. €4 admission on W. Open M-F 9:30am-5pm, Sa-Su 9:30am-6pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.