Propylaea of the Eagles of Villa Borghese

Roman-style propylaea, originally a monumental entrance to the villa from the Muro Torto

Located in Piazzale Brasile and in front of Porta Pinciana, the Propylaea of the Eagles of Villa Borghese They form a monumental threshold between the city and the landscape of the historic villa, introducing the visitor to one of Rome's most celebrated green spaces. The current configuration is the result of transformations that took place throughout the twentieth century, but the origins of the work date back to the late eighteenth century, the period of the extensive landscaping promoted by the Borghese family.

Even today, the Propylaea of the Eagles retain the scenographic character typical of Roman neoclassical architecture and tell an important story of the urban evolution of Villa Borghese.

Roman Propylaea at Villa Borghese - Photographs © Archweb.com — The Propylaea of the Eagles as they appear today when seen from Piazzale Brasile

The origin of the Propylaea of the Eagles

The Propylaea of the Eagles was designed in 1790 by architect Antonio Asprucci, a key figure in the neoclassical transformations of Villa Borghese commissioned by Prince Marcantonio IV Borghese. During those years, the park was gradually redefined in a more modern and monumental style, inspired by the models of classical antiquity and the great European landscape designs.

Asprucci's intervention not only affected the buildings and gardens, but also the villa's access system. The Propylaea of the Eagles was originally located in a different position than its current location. It was originally built as a monumental entrance along the Muro Torto, one of the historic routes that ran alongside the Aurelian Walls.

Historical photographs and engravings show a more intimate original configuration, designed primarily for the passage of carriages and pedestrians, consistent with the function of access to a noble residence and estate.

On the left, an image of the original entrance plan from Canina's design.

Mark Antony instead decided that the entrance to the Crooked Wall was to become the most noble […] it is important that the type of entrance chosen was the propylaeum, that is, that group of buildings which in the classical world […] meant an entrance of honor, but also an open construction that introduced a monumental complex.

- Blessed Di Gaddo, Villa Borghese, The Garden and the Architecture, tel.119-120

The name derives from the large sculpted eagles placed atop the lateral pillars, decorative elements that give the whole structure a strong symbolic and celebratory value. The eagle, besides recalling the imagery of imperial Rome, reinforces the monumental character of the entrance.

Architecture and compositional features

From an architectural point of view, the Propylaea of the Eagles represent a significant example of late eighteenth-century Roman neoclassicism.

The cladding is made of thick travertine slabs, and the ashlar stone forms an arch containing the pedestrian and surveillance gates. The decorative elements, with their reliefs of stylized acanthus leaves, also feature a recurring motif in numerous Roman works. The Borghese dragons intertwine with the spirals of the leaves (decorative bas-reliefs on the four sides of the pillars). ed), while the two eagles placed on the top of the pillars conclude the composition

- Blessed Di Gaddo, Villa Borghese, The Garden and the Architecture, P.122

The composition is based on rigorous symmetry and a deliberately essential language, yet capable of achieving a powerful scenographic effect. The travertine pillars are characterized by severe proportions and a very clear geometric design. Above them are the decorative eagles that give the entire complex its name.

The entrance of the Asprucci to the Muro Torto before the demolition in 1933, from *Villa Borghese, The Garden and the Architecture* by Beata Di Gaddo – Officina Edizioni

The relocation of the Propylaea of the Eagles in the twentieth century

One of the most interesting stories related to the Propylaea of the Eagles concerns their relocation in 1933. In those years, the Muro Torto area underwent major urban planning works aimed at improving traffic flow in the northern part of Rome.

To accommodate the widening of the roadway and the passage of the tram, the propylaea were dismantled and relocated to their current location, next to Porta Pinciana. During the reassembly, the distance between the pylons was increased compared to the original layout, adapting the entrance to the new demands of urban traffic.

This intervention profoundly altered the perception of the work. While the Propylaea of the Eagles originally appeared as a secluded and controlled entrance, today it takes on a more open and monumental presence, in direct dialogue with the contemporary urban space. The increased distance between the pillars, combined with the removal of the gate and the suppression of other structures, has led to a loss of the continuity and succession of spaces typical of the propylaea.

The Propylaea of the Eagles today

Today, the Propylaea of the Eagles is one of the most evocative entrances to Villa Borghese. Its proximity to Porta Pinciana and the Aurelian Walls creates a particularly interesting dialogue between different eras of Roman history.

On one side, one senses the urban dimension of the modern city; on the other, the tree-lined paths, gardens, and historic spaces of the villa begin. It is precisely this "threshold" aspect that makes the Propylaea particularly interesting from a photographic perspective.

The three propylaea of Villa Borghese

The Propylaea of the Eagles are the oldest of the three propylaea present in Villa Borghese. Their role as the main access to the villa was inherited within a few years by the Greek Propylaea designed by Luigi Canina in 1827, still accessible from Piazzale Flaminio. Also by Canina Egyptian Propylaea, crossed by the current Via Fiorello la Guardia, to connect the ancient part of Villa Borghese with the new areas purchased at the time by Prince Camillo Borghese.

The photo gallery dedicated to the Propylaea of the Eagles offers a detailed look at the decorations, bas-reliefs, and eagles at the top, as well as the relationship between the neoclassical architecture and the surrounding urban context. This provides a deeper understanding of one of the most characteristic historical entrances to Villa Borghese.

Summary of the work

• Original name: Roman Propylaea
• Year of construction: 1790
• Designer: Antonio Asprucci
• Original location: Muro Torto (Rome)
• Current location: Piazza Brasile (Rome)

Photographs taken in March 2025