Cembalo Gallery — Borghese Palace
Palazzo Borghese is a grand aristocratic palace in Rome, the historic main seat of the powerful Borghese family. Nicknamed il Cembalo (the harpsichord) on account of its distinctive trapezoidal ground plan, the palace is celebrated for its magnificent internal gallery — once one of the finest private art collections in Europe — and for its colonnaded courtyard garden described by contemporaries as the finest in Rome.
At a glance
- Type
- Aristocratic palace with private picture gallery
- Period
- Late 16th – early 17th century; enlarged and completed c. 1671
- Style
- Roman Baroque; late Mannerist foundations
- Location
- Largo della Fontanella di Borghese, Rome, Italy
- Coordinates
- 41.9040° N, 12.4761° E
Overview
Palazzo Borghese stands near the Tiber in central Rome, its narrowest facade turning toward the river while the broad “keyboard” end — giving rise to the harpsichord nickname — opens onto the Fontanella di Borghese. The main entrance leads into a large cortile flanked by a two-level open arcade with paired Doric and Ionic columns framing the garden beyond. For two centuries the palace housed the Borghese Collection, one of the most celebrated private art assemblies in Italy before much of it was moved to the Villa Borghese gallery.
History
The palace was begun in the late 16th century and passed to Cardinal Camillo Borghese, who became Pope Paul V in 1605; under his patronage the building was substantially enlarged to its present imposing scale. Architect Flaminio Ponzio directed much of the work, while Carlo Maderno contributed to later phases. The Borghese family assembled their legendary picture collection here, including works by Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio, over the course of the 17th century. In the 18th century parts of the collection were sold to Napoleon Bonaparte, eventually entering the Louvre.
What you see
The facade facing Piazza Borghese is animated by a grand portal and rusticated base, while the lateral elevation stretches along Via Borghese toward the river. The internal courtyard is the palace’s celebrated showpiece: a wide porticoed garden with classical statuary, fountains and clipped hedges that made it a required stop on the 17th-century Grand Tour. The Cembalo Gallery — a suite of rooms on the piano nobile — retains its elaborate frescoed ceilings and stucco decorations, offering a vivid impression of Baroque aristocratic living.
Cultural significance
Palazzo Borghese represents the apex of papal-family patronage in 17th-century Rome, shaping the visual culture of the Baroque city. Its collection helped define European taste in the arts for over two centuries, and the building’s unusual harpsichord plan remains one of the most recognisable architectural curiosities of the historic centre.
Practical information
- Address
- Largo della Fontanella di Borghese, 00186 Roma RM
- Access
- The courtyard may be glimpsed from Piazza Borghese; interior visits are restricted — check official channels for any scheduled openings
- Hours
- Check official website for current access information
Getting there
The palace is a short walk from Piazza del Popolo (Metro Line A, Flaminio stop) or from Via del Corso. Bus lines serving Via del Corso and Lungotevere stop nearby. The historic centre is best explored on foot.