Travel to Italy with your dog: A walk through Parco della Villa Borghese

In our last installment of Travel to Italy with your dog we visited  Piazza del Popolo, one of the entry points to Parco della Villa Borghese -- a wonderful place to take a stroll with your dog.

From either Piazza del Popolo or the top of the Spanish Step it's an easy stroll to the top of Pincio Hill and the entrance to Parco della Villa Borghese. Here, Cosmo Havanese and I enjoy the panoramic view of the center of Rome and St. Peter's.

Entering Parco della Villa Borghese, or Borghese Park, you're sure to find lots of activity... from bicyclists to rollerbladers AND lots of dogs!

Heading down one of the many paths and walkways...

...we came upon the Valley of the Dogs, an area designated for off-leash dog play. A handful of larger dogs and their people enjoyed the late winter afternoon. Cosmo preferred to observe from a distance. Further down the path...

... we listened to some music. Cosmo's nose was working at full capacity!

The park, one of Rome's largest, has many lovely gardens, two art museums a grass-covered amphitheater and a lake. Some of the trees were particularly impressive.

These tall sculpted-looking trees are known as Umbrella Pines, a species of pine native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. The pines even inspired a symphonic tone poem -- Pini di Roma, the Pines of Rome --  by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi in 1924. Listen! 

 After all that walking, there are plenty of places to stop for a quick snack! 

And sometimes a little dog needs a free ride!  But even up in the air, Cosmo's head was always on a swivel and his nose working overtime!  

Next up: great places to eat with your dog in Borghese Park! Here, Cosmo and I are leaving Casina Valadier after a wonderful lunch with a view!

Other posts about our Italy adventure you might enjoy:

• International Paperwork Preparation
• How to Prepare Your Dog For a Long Plane Ride
• Arriving in Rome, Dog-Friendly InterContinental Hotel, Piazza del Popolo