Temple of Aesculapius

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The temple was originally designed as a 'tempietto' to house a statue of Aesculapius that was discovered in the excavations of the Mausoleum of Augustus.

2. 2

   The island on which the temple stands was artificially created during the redesign of the Villa Borghese gardens in the late 18th century.

3. 3

   The structure features a unique layout where the rear of the temple faces the main path, intentionally creating a visual 'backdrop' rather than a traditional front-facing facade.

4. 4

   The architects, father and son Antonio and Mario Asprucci, were key figures in introducing the English landscape garden style to Italy.

5. 5

   The temple's columns are carved from ancient marble fragments scavenged from Roman ruins, a common practice in 18th-century decorative construction.

Overview

The Temple of Aesculapius is a neoclassical structure situated on an island in the lake of Villa Borghese. Constructed between 1786 and 1792 by architects Antonio Asprucci and Mario Asprucci, it serves as a decorative folly within the park's landscape. The temple honors the god of medicine and was designed to house a statue of Aesculapius retrieved from the ruins of the Mausoleum of Augustus. Its architectural style features an Ionian tetrastyle portico topped by a triangular pediment. The surrounding lake was engineered to complement the picturesque, romantic aesthetic of the 18th-century garden. While the temple serves primarily as a visual landmark, it is not accessible for interior entry. The site is part of the larger Villa Borghese gardens, which function as one of Rome's most significant public green spaces.

Insider tips

• Rent a wooden rowboat from the nearby kiosk to view the temple from the water for a unique perspective.

• Walk the perimeter of the lake to see how the temple's reflection changes in the water from different angles.

• Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Galleria Borghese, but book your museum entry well in advance.