[Photo from turismoroma.it]

So we start off from the Pincio (Pincian Gardens), overlooking Piazza del Popolo. Here, wooden or papier-maché pyrotechnical machines, designed by renowned architects, were once ignited on special occasions. The gardens directly spill into 85 hectars of Villa Borghese public park, which belonged to Borghese Princes’ private villa up until the end of the nineteenth century.

There is something for everyone in Villa Borghese’s all-embracing sumptuous grounds: art-lovers may enjoy the invaluable collection of paintings and sculptures in the Galleria Borghese or, for example, families might choose a day out among the vast variety of mammals, reptiles and birds in the Biopark.

Comfortably nestling among the pine trees is the Casa del Cinema, which offers a full programme of screenings, film editing and direction classes as well as conferences … while it is ideal for a simple break seated outside its Cinecaffè. An opportunity should neither be missed to also visit the Globe Theatre, a faithful reproduction of the Elizabethan original.