The Bioparco (Rome zoological garden)

A fantastic Zoo located in the heart of the city, just inside the Villa Borghese gardens, and home to around 200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians from all over the world, including Sumatran tigers, lions, bears, orangutans, Komodo dragons, chimpanzees, and catta lemurs, which will stimulate your curiosity.

Among the areas present are the Great Aviary in stainless steel, which with its geodesic shape allows even the largest birds to fly for a long time, and the Reptile House, which recreates a tropical environment under the open sky, with waterfalls and trees, and a rainforest, both built in the 1930s by the architect Raffaele De Vico.

The Bioparco has a vast botanical collection. Originally composed mostly of Mediterranean species, it has been enriched with hundreds of exotic species since 1911, the year the Zoo was opened. Among the plants housed you can admire some uncommon specimens such as Araucaria bidwilli and Liriodendron tulipifera, or some palm species such as Phoenix dactylifera, Phoenix reclinata, Butia capitata and Jubaea chilensis.

The Bioparco offers an unmissable opportunity to enjoy an unusual and wild nature located right in the centre of Rome, a capital city with an inestimable historical, artistic and cultural heritage. In its 17 hectares, there are many spaces dedicated to leisure and educational activities, such as coffee shops, bookshops and restaurants. There is also the Oasi del Lago, a 1,200 square metre green area with an artificial lake, picnic area and outdoor play area.

There are many ways to visit the Bioparco, either on foot or on a small train, as well as a variety of itineraries.

Photo credits: Massimiliano Di Giovanni – Archivio Bioparco