Carlo Bilotti Contemporary Art Museum

Located in the Aranciera di Villa Borghese, the collection of cosmetics and perfume baron and philanthropist Carlo Bilotti focuses on great contemporary art. The Orangery is intriguing in itself, as part of the original Villa Borghese, built by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 1600s.

Bilotti split his time between New York and Europe; besides Paris and New York, he was very active in the worlds of art and finance in Zurich, Basel and London.As a collector, he became friends with many artists, including de Chirico, Warhol, Lichenstein, Dalì, de Saint-Phalle, Rivers, and Rotella. From these friendships came commissions for numerous works of art, not only for his personal collection, but also for his companies. He commissioned a portrait of his wife and daughter by Andy Warhol, done in semi-photographic mode; unusual as it is one of the few Warhols with two figures on the same canvas. There is only one other Warhol in Rome.

Anyone who enjoy contemporary art will want to visit this museum. It is even more alluring for its setting in the Villa Borghese Park.

Admission is FREE but reservations are REQUIRED. Call 060608 for reservations.

Hours:

The museum is closed Mondays.

From June through September: Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 PM til 7:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM til 7:00 PM.

From October through May: weekdays from 10:00 AM til 4:00 PM and Weekends from 10:00 PM til 7:00 PM.