Borghese Park in northern Rome was once the garden of the Borghese family in the 17th century and has since become a park for the citizens of Rome, a quiet escape from the bustle of the city. The easy way for visitors to reach it is through the Porta Pinciana at the end of Via Veneto. Just past the gate, to the right of the Byron statue, stands the Galleria Borghese.
There is no admission fee for Borghese Park itself, so it is a good place to rest for a while. Bring food in advance, though: places selling food inside are very rare, and even drinks are hard to find and very expensive.
We paused in silence before a statue of someone long gone, then rested on a bench with aching legs. I had layered so many clothes against the cold that I looked like a fat pig.
We kept walking, looking for a good spot, and finally sat down to eat baguettes. Honestly they tasted like rubber, but we were so hungry we each ate two, grumbling all the while.
Then we met Group 4 and took a group photo to mark the occasion, and gave them our leftover tasteless bread.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in January 2008 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.