9/24/11

Villa Borghese Gardens

Welcome to Rome's second largest public park. The Borghese name goes back the Middle Ages and includes popes, princes, fascists, entrepreneurs, and American reality TV game show contestants. A vineyard before 1600, the present gardens--148 acres of them--were rebuilt in the English style in the early 19th century and given to Rome in 1903.

Popular Pincio Park (PIN-cho) at western end of Villa Borghese is an easy walk from central Rome.

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Looking west, this is a popular place to take in the sunset over St. Peter's Basilica.

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We are strolling east.

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Pincio Park has busts.

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Many of them have been vandalized, some in somewhat amusing ways.

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Loving the big stone spheres. Want!!!

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