The splendid small palace that is home to the Borghese Gallery was built at the beginning of the 17th century as the private residence and for the public representation of the Borghese family. Admire the interior of this spectacular Renaissance villa and its amazing collection of art on a 3-hour small-group guided tour. From the very beginning the villa housed the collection of Cardinal Scipio (1579-1633), nephew of Pope Paul V Borghese. In 1902 the Italian government purchased the rest of the collection and the building. Currently the collection comprises sculptures, bas-reliefs, ancient mosaics, and 16th and 17th century paintings. You’ll find masterpieces by Antonello da Messina, Giovanni Bellini, Perugino, Pinturicchio, Veronese, Raphael (Deposition), Domenichino (Diana's Hunt), Titian (Sacred and Profane Love; Venus Blindfolding Love), Correggio (Danae), Caravaggio (Youth with a Fruit Basket; Madonna of the Footmen; David with Goliath's Head), and Rubens (Pietà), and magnificent sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Apollo and Daphne; Rape of Proserpina; David) and Canova (Paolina Borghese).