Villa Borghese: What To See In The Rich, Ancient Gardens Of Rome

Important temples to look out for

While strolling through the pathways, keep an eye out for some interesting structures. One of these is the Tempio di Annia Faustina e Cerere (Temple of Annia Faustina and Ceres), a neoclassical temple that was dedicated to the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius along with his wife Annia Faustina.

This incredible four-column feature was built by Antonio Asprucci, who was actually the first Italian architect to bring back the Greek Doric style of architecture, along with his son, Mario, during the 18th century. There’s also an artificial lake garden where you’ll see the 19th-century Tempio di Esculapio (Temple of Aesculapius) built on a small island in the center.

You will be fond of watching the geese and swans as they swim around the lake, while sitting under the weeping willows with your loved one, or family members, as you settle down for a nice afternoon picnic. Rental boats are also available for just 3 EUR (3.42 USD) per person.

The 84th Grand Prix

Another noteworthy site to see is the Piazza di Siena (Siena Square). You may have noticed a couple of horses as you’ve been walking along the paths, and there is definitely a grand reason for this. The most important horse show in Rome, the 84th Grand Prix, will be taking place in the Piazza di Siena from May 21st until May 24th of 2016.

It is an incredible show to watch, as many professional horseback riders will perform jumps and stunts with their horses. This is not just a local horse show, in fact, all four members from The Netherlands’ team along with the Dutch individual World Champion Jeroen Dubbeldam, who happens to be an Olympic gold medalist, will be among the teams competing against one another.

Many other attractions to view

A wonderful way to explore the Villa Borghese is to rent a bike, as there are so many more attractions to see throughout the park. One company that has two bike rental set-ups in Villa Borghese is called Bici Pincio, and many other rental shops throughout Rome whose day rates are usually 8 EUR to 13 EUR (9.11 USD to 14.81 USD).

You may also opt to rent a risciò, which is an adorable peddling cart meant for two or three people that has a tarp like roof. You’ll also come across a fine replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, called the Silvano Toti Globe Theatre. There are many performances during the summer months, and tickets range from a nominal cost of 7 EUR to 18 EUR (7.98 USD to 20.51 USD).

While roaming around, you may even notice how similar the Triton statues look compared to those on the Fontana del Moro (the Moor Fountain) in Piazza Navona. Well, you may be surprised to find out that these are indeed the original statues that have been moved from the piazza to the park. The Tritons that you see on the Fontana del Moro were actually replicated in the nineteenth-century.