On this tour we will pick you up and drive you to Rome’s beautiful zoo, the Bioparco di Roma.

Duration

4 hours

About

This tour begins with your guide picking you up at the location of your choosing in a private car which will drive you to Villa Borghese, one of the most beautiful parks in Italy. This huge park, which stretches out 80 hectares (197.7 acres), was once the private gardens of one of the most powerful families in Italy, the Borghese. Their house, the villa which the park is named after, is now one of the most impressive museums in Rome, but we will start by taking you to the other corner where Rome’s Zoo has been operating since 1911. It has changed a lot over the years, with major works being done in the 20’s, 30’s, 70’s and 80’s, but it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that the zoo officially changed into a Biopark.

Preferring ditches and pits to bars and cages to stop the animals from getting out, the area has a very open feel with most animals in large outdoor sanctuaries and the zoo itself stretches out 12 hectares (30 acres). The park is home to 1,114 animals of 222 species ranging from aardvarks to zebras, white tigers to pygmy hippos and even 2 young lion cubs, born in the spring of 2020.

Once you are inside, your guide can show you our suggested route through the park, or if you prefer we can always tailor a new route to better suit your needs, but whichever you prefer you will be greeted at the entrance by three very tall and often very friendly giraffes. Inside the park there are two snack bars to get refreshments and admire the peacocks that casually wander outside among the tables. The park also contains a large aviary with exotic birds from every corner of the planet and a sleek and modern indoor reptile house full of mesmerising snakes, lizards and frogs.

Once everything has been covered at the zoo we will leave the animals and enjoy a short walk in the park back toward the city. You will stroll through the elegant gardens that have remained unchanged since the 1800’s and are as relaxing now as they have ever been. You will learn the history of the powerful family that built the gardens and explore the many hidden treasures that they still hold.

Walking through the gardens, past a perfect replica of the Globe theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on our right and a stadium used for horse shows on your left, we will come to a stunning lake. A temple to the god Asclepius, the Roman god of Medicine, appears to be floating in the middle of the lake giving the area an unbelievably picturesque look. From the lake we will move past statues and fountains to the beautiful square, Piazzale Napoleone, where we can enjoy some gelato while looking out from the viewpoint with the city of Rome stretching out before you. The tour will end in the neoclassical square, Piazza del Popolo, home to one of Rome’s Egyptian obelisks and the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria di Montesanto, both completed by Bernini himself.

What's included

• Transportation to/from meeting point
• Entry to the each site included in the tour
• Expert Local Guide
• Headsets for groups when appropriate
• Authentic Italian Gelato or Coffee

What's Excluded

• (Additional) Food and Drink
• Gratuities
• Zoo Train Ride

Know Before You Go

Please check-in at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Tours will depart promptly at the scheduled time, and no refunds will be given for late arrivals or missed tours.

Proof of identification may be required, so please bring a valid form of photo ID for each guest.

Tours will proceed in all weather conditions, unless the site is closed by authorities for safety reasons. It is highly recommended to bring bottled water, sunscreen, hat and umbrella.

All tours operate within the current COVID-19 regulations set by the Italian Government.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and be sure to dress warmly in colder temperatures, and bring a cover for bare shoulders inside any churches in the warmer months.