Rome - Bernini

This was taken walking through this massive park which holds the Borghese Gallery. I didn't think that is was that huge until the morning I had to get the gallery on time (15 minutes before) or not be allowed in. I got off on the wrong metro stop given by my hostel. I did come to find out later on that I was on the opposite side of the whole park to where I needed to be.

First though I asked one man in broken Italian, "Where is Villa Borghese?" He pointed me up the hill, so I ran. Whoo. Then I turned right at the top guessing with my map. I ran into another man at a bus stop. I asked him in broken Italian, "Dove Villa Borghese?". He pointed me to the....

right of this statue. I ran up that hill. Getting quite concerned about time.

Now I need to go back a little ways. My number one in the whole 3 months in Europe was to see Bernini's sculpture Apollo and Daphne, which is located in the Borghese Gallery. As I was talking to my tour guide at the time, she said it is hard to get in, you need a reservation. She did try to call and make one, but wasn't able too. I called my dad all upset and crying about how this whole trip was for this one statue I LOVED and how I wouldn't be able to see it. He immediately, as I was talking, types in Borghese Gallery and he is trying to figure out the site when he say there is this day, this day, and this day, etc. I was like what??? He said I will buy one right now, what day? I told him the best day would be the 28th of April. He plugged in his information and low and be hold my dad can through in a HUGE way. I was going to see my favorite sculpture. Now that I knew I was going to see it, it was a relief. Thanks Dad.

Now back to the story, so I am run/walking through this park hoping to God I will get there. So I head up this hill and I come to a lake/pond. Which way do I go? I thought which way did that guy point right or left? Which way? I go left. As I am heading around this lake/pond I come across a women jogger, but she passes me before I can stop her. I than have a guy walking towards me and I wave. I ask him in broken Italian, "Where is Villa Borghese?" He said, "Do you speak in Italian?" (in Italian, by the way). I said no, English. He then talks to me in English (Thank God) about how I was on the opposite end of where it was. I needed to head straight as far as I could go. Then I needed to turn left at that point and then head down as far as I could go and Villa Borghese would be there. I thought ARE you KIDDING me? I thanked him for his help and dashed off. I ran/walk down this lane as far as I could go. Time was ticking by. I then turned left and headed straight for Villa Borghese. I arrive 5 minutes before my ticket time was. AND guess what???? The doors WEREN'T even open. I was hot, sweaty, and just plain whooped. I did take a few photos outside. Then the doors opened at 8AM and I was in heaven.


Villa Borghese


Name placed in ground.


Sculpture outside on the upper balcony.


Now this isn't a Bernini, but it is amazing effect with marble and looking like she is laying on that chaise.


A back side view.


This is Bernini's 'Rape of Proserpina' is show Proserpina being seized and taken to the underworld by Pluto, depicting "rape" in its archaic definition of "kidnapping." Which is why we have fall/winter and spring/summer because Proserpina prayer to her mother Ceres to return to the real world 6 months a year.






This is marble by the way.




The next is of David by Bernini. "The subject of the work is the biblical David, about to throw the stone that will bring down Goliath, which will allow David to behead him. Relating to earlier works on the same theme, it is also revolutionary in its implied movement and its psychological depth." He is famous for these sculpture that are in mid-movement. It is quite captivating then and now.

And finally, my favorite of all time.

Apollo and Daphne

"When Apollo, fated by Cupid's love-exciting arrow, sees the maiden daughter of Peneus a river god, he is filled with wonder at her beauty and consumed by desire. But Daphne has been fated by Cupid's love-repelling arrow and denies the love of men. As the Nymph flees, he relentlessly chases her, boasting, pleading and promising everything. When her strength is finally spent she prays to her father River and mother Earth: 'Destroy the beauty that has injured me, or change the body that destroys my life’. Before her prayer was ended, torpor seized on all her body, and a thin bark closed around her gentle bosom, and her hair became as moving leaves; her arms were changed to waving branches, and her active feet as clinging roots were fastened to the ground – her face was hidden with encircling leaves."


Apollo never touches her, he only ever touches is the bark of the tree as it is changing her.


I stood here for at least 30 to 45 minutes then came back around when done with seeing all the rest of the statues and standing another 20 minutes. I felt like I was at a rock concert. Or seeing you favorite celebrity in person. Or standing in front of something so unbelievable it is hard to believe. I was so happy, enamored, thrilled to be standing in that spot and seeing it. It was a truly great and I don't think I could explain it to you how great it was.


The details in it are exquisite. I don't normal go and buy books about artists, but I went to the gallery and bought a Bernini book and read it out in the park. It was soooo amazing.

I was off to Paris that night.

This concludes Rome, YEAH. I will continue through all the cities in Italy, then head off to Paris. On to Vatican City, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Florence, Pisa, Cirque Terre, Milan, Garda Lake, Verona, and Venice. One day I will be caught up.