Borghese Gallery Tour & Tickets: With Bernini, Caravaggio & Raphael

It's hardly a suprise that Borghese Gallery tickets are in high demand: this stunning private villa has one of the most impressive collections of Renaissance and Baroque art in the world. And even better; it's all displayed without any cordons or velvet ropes, the way it was meant to be.

The tour is divided between paintings and sculptures, each a bona fide national treasure. You'll have your heart wrenched by the story behind Raphael's Deposition and marvel at the dark realism of Caravaggio's religious depictions (this museum has one of the best permanent collections of his work in the world). If marble is more your thing, you'll get an intimate look at Antonio Canova's statue of Pauline Bonaparte, which scandalized the world when it was unveiled.

The stars of the show are the sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose statues of David, Apollo and Daphne, and the Rape of Proserpina, will drop your jaw with life-like depictions, attention to detail, and pure human emotion conjured from stone.

Through stories, anecdotes, explanations, and even a few rumors, your guide will help you understand what makes a masterpiece and deepen your appreciation of painting and sculpture alike. Don't expect any dry lectures on form or style here, this is a close encounter with some of the world's greatest art in a setting like no other.