Tales of Light at the Borghese Gallery: an immersive show combining art, history and video mapping

Have you ever seen a museum tell its story through the voice of light?

If you love art and culture and are looking for a truly unique experience, Racconti di Luce alla Galleria Borghese will surprise you. Starting next July, one of Rome’s most fascinating cultural spaces will be transformed into an open-air stage, where technology will meet the beauty of history.

In this post, I’ll tell you all about this extraordinary event: Racconti di Luce at the Galleria Borghese, an immersive show that combines art, music and storytelling to take you on an exciting journey into the heart of Italian history.

Tales of Light at the Borghese Gallery

Whether you are planning a visit to the Gallery or want to discover something special to do in Rome on summer evenings, read on. I will explain how the show works, when to go, where to book and what to expect from this unique experience. Also, if you are a fan of Canova or want to know everything about the museum’s collection, I will leave you some useful links for further information!

A unique video mapping in the heart of Villa Borghese

Imagine sitting in the garden of the Borghese Gallery at dusk and seeing its façade light up with moving images, sounds and stories. This is exactly what happens with Racconti di Luce, the immersive show staged every Friday and Saturday from 11 July to 11 October 2025, with performances starting at 9.15 p.m.

Through a spectacular artistic projection, the history of the Gallery will come to life before your eyes: from Cardinal Scipione Borghese’s dream in the 17th century to the present day.

Every architectural detail of the villa will be enhanced by a fascinating visual narrative, with an original soundtrack and an exciting narration available in Italian, English, French, Spanish and even in LIS (Italian sign language).

A journey through the history of the Borghese Gallery

The show is not just a play of lights but a real chronological journey that will take you to discover the origins and evolution of the Borghese Gallery. It traces the purchase of the land by Cardinal Scipione, the birth of the villa as an exhibition venue, the transformations of the gardens, the restorations and the museum choices that have made this museum one of the most loved in the world.

This is an opportunity to see the Gallery with new eyes, capturing details that are normally missed during a traditional visit. If you want to prepare yourself in the best possible way, you can also read my article on Galleria Borghese works: masterpieces not to be missed, so you will be able to recognise the protagonists of the visual story.

How to participate: tickets and useful information

To attend the Racconti di Luce show, you must book online for a dedicated ticket (subject to availability). Chairs are set up in the gardens of Villa Borghese to ensure maximum comfort for spectators. The museum will remain open until 10 p.m. for the event, so you can also take advantage of an evening visit before the show.

To find out how to book your visit to the museum, read the complete guide: Galleria Borghese tickets: how to book and what to see. From this post, you can access the website directly to book your tickets.

The dates for Racconti di Luce at the Galleria Borghese are:

11/07, 12/07, 19/07, 25/07, 26/07, 01/08, 08/08, 15/08, 22/08, 29/08, 05/09, 12/09, 19/09, 26/09, 03/10, 04/10, 10/10, 11/10.

Art, memory and innovation at the Galleria Borghese

Racconti di Luce is much more than a spectacular event: it is a celebration of cultural memory and art’s ability to reinvent itself. An experience that combines historical heritage with the power of contemporary visual language. The project is one of the initiatives funded by the PNRR to promote more inclusive access to culture by breaking down physical and cognitive barriers in Italian museums.

It is therefore the perfect opportunity to discover the Galleria Borghese in a new, exciting and deeply immersive way. Furthermore, if after the show you want to learn more about Paolina Borghese, one of Canova’s masterpieces found here, I recommend reading this in-depth article: Paolina Borghese: where to see Canova’s sculpture.

Write to me in the comments if you’re going, or share the article with others who love art as much as you do!