Using in-depth research into the Borghese family archives and a careful re-examination of the restoration of the nucleus of Villa Borghese containing the Aviary and Meridiana pavillians and the 3 Secret Gardens, this book reconstructs the history of Scipione Borghese's sumptuous 17th-century residence conceived as a dialogue between art and nature. It examines the leitmotifs of hospitality and the golden age that inspired Scipione's ideological project as well as his passion for collecting, focusing on the contrast between 'pars urbana' and 'pars rustice,' both required to ensure that totality of aesthetic and daily experiences for which the villa was designed and created.

This richly suggestive book deals with a wealth of subjects ranging from the species of birds bred and confined in the Aviary to the sophisticated painting techniques used in the decorative schemes. It also reconstructs the vicissitudes of the Secret Gardens, from their days of glory to their abandonment, concluding with the recent restoration, which involved the reintroduction of flowers in vogue during the 17th century, the rarest examples of which are described in detailed botanical fact sheets.