Museo Carlo Bilotti

The Orangery was known, in the eighteenth century, such as Casino dei Giochi d'Acqua for the presence of fountains and nymphs, surrounded by the Lake Garden with its spectacular accommodations. In the rooms lavishly decorated and furnished the Borghese princes organized parties and social events. Following the serious damage caused by the bombardment of 1849, during the French defense of the papacy against the Roman Republic, the building was rebuilt and freely adapted to winter storage of citrus fruits, thus losing all its precious decorations. After decades of decline and improper use as offices, the Orangery becomes place of recreation and culture thanks to an extensive restoration that has transformed it into a museum to house the permanent donation of works of art by Carlo Bilotti, Italian-American entrepreneur and internationally renowned collector, displaying paintings, sculptures and drawings. The donation of a total of twenty-two works, includes a substantial collection of paintings and sculptures by Giorgio de Chirico, representative of the most famous subjects produced by the artist in the late twenties and the seventies, and the portrait of Carlo Bilotti by ' American Larry Rivers, a portrait of Tina and Lisa Bilotti made in 1981 by the master of Pop Art Andy Warhol, the summer of Gino Severini and finally the large Cardinal in bronze by Giacomo Manzu. To make the museum open to ever new developments in contemporary art, next to the room destined to the permanent exhibition of the donation are provided spaces for temporary events. The realization of the Bilotti Museum stands as exemplary experience of cooperation between public and private and the new cultural institution is a further element of the project of Villa Borghese where the Museum Park, a privileged place of art and culture meet.