ROME – Travellers visiting Rome in early October still have an opportunity to see Metamorphoses: Ovid and the Arts at the Borghese Gallery. The exhibition has been extended until 11 October 2026 and brings together more than eighty works in a project developed with Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum.
Why this is more than a literary exhibition
Ovid was a Roman poet whose Metamorphoses tells stories of gods, people and nature changing form. Those stories supplied artists with subjects for centuries. You do not need to read the poem in Latin or Italian to approach an exhibition built around its images.
The Borghese Gallery is a particularly relevant setting because mythology is already embedded in its collection and decoration. Visiting the show can give a first-time museum visitor a thread to follow through a dense artistic environment: how does a story of change become a painting, sculpture or moving image?
The Rome presentation has its own configuration and is curated by Francesca Cappelletti and Frits Scholten. International loans broaden the encounter beyond a standard collection visit.
Keep the two closing dates separate
The related Isaac Julien film installation in the Uccelliera is announced through 25 October 2026. This later date does not extend the main Ovid exhibition. If the historical show is the reason for your visit, plan for its earlier closing date and secure an available museum slot.
Do not assume that arriving in Villa Borghese means a ticket will be available. The gallery uses reserved entry sessions, so book the museum before finalising the day’s walk through the park.
Practical information
Exhibition closes: 11 October 2026.
Address: Galleria Borghese, Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5, Rome.
Museum hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9am–7pm; final entry 5.45pm; closed Mondays.
Visit time: museum sessions last two hours, except the final session.
Cost: the ordinary published rate is €16 plus a €2 booking fee; temporary exhibitions may increase admission. Confirm the exhibition’s actual total at checkout.
Booking: required, including concession/free tickets. Use https://galleriaborghese.cultura.gov.it/visita/info-biglietti/
Getting there: Metro A to Flaminio, followed by a walk through Villa Borghese to the museum. Allow for the park walk rather than treating the metro stop as the entrance.
Language: English labels have not been confirmed; much of the encounter is visual. Check guided-tour options if an English explanation is essential.
More planning ideas: free Rome Travel Guide https://www.topromestreetfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RomeTravelGuide.pdf
