Formerly a cardinal’s luxurious private villa, the Borghese Gallery is one of the most remarkable art galleries in the world, containing masterpieces by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance and Baroque. Your 2 and a half hour private tour of the Borghese Gallery is a unique opportunity to discover these artworks in the company of an expert guide – an art historian – before exploring the Borghese gardens.

Your private tour begins with the Baroque master Bernini, who transformed the art and architecture of Rome and had a profound influence on generations to come. Apollo and Daphne is his most famous statue – a magical work depicting desire and anguish as the nymph Daphne, pursued by the god Apollo, is transformed into a tree. Equally impressive are works such as the Rape of Proserpina and David, which are proof of Bernini’s mastery of marble.

Another highlight of the Borghese Gallery private tour are the extraordinary paintings of another Baroque master, Caravaggio. Your guide will show you some of his greatest works, such as the Boy with the Fruit Basket and David and Goliath, and help you to understand their symbolism, as well as giving you a fascinating insight into the turbulent and troubled life of the artist.

What makes the Borghese Gallery remarkable is the concentration of famous works; in a relatively small gallery, it seems that virtually every painting and sculpture is a masterpiece. Other must-see masterpieces include Raphael’s The Deposition of Christ, and the mysterious Sacred and ProfaneLove by Titian.

After your gallery tour, you’ll enjoy a stroll through the Borghese gardens – once a private garden, now a picturesque public park in Rome – before reaching the Pincio terrace to admire spectacularviews of the Eternal City.