Bioparco Roma + Hotel

Rome Biopark – zoological garden

Rome's zoological garden was inaugurated in 1911 with the primary goal of entertaining the public through the display of rare and exotic animals. This was a very different concept from the current " modern zoo ," which is a facility dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, environmental education, and scientific research. A visit to the Bioparco today represents an opportunity to learn about, understand, and consequently respect the environment around us. The Bioparco is home to over 1,200 animals from approximately 200 different species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians from five continents, and is set in one of Rome's most interesting and evocative botanical settings.

In its 17 hectares within Villa Borghese, the Bioparco has a rich botanical collection that includes uncommon plant species such as the Araucaria bidwilli and the Liriodendron tulipifera, as well as some palm species such as the Phoenix dactylifera, P. reclinata, the Butia capitata and the Jubaea chilensis.

The plants in the Bioparco also have great historical significance: the original planting, some specimens of which can still be admired, dates back to the period before the creation of the Zoological Garden (1911). Over time, the collection has been enriched with numerous other species, including some of exotic origin.

Rome's Bioparco is gradually adapting to the basic principles of modern zoos, particularly with regard to botanical aspects. New projects are aligning with the need to "naturalize" exhibits, and the role of plants in this context is beginning to be recognized as fundamental.

The inclusion of plants in the design phase of the new exhibits began in 1999 with the renovation of the Large Aviary and the Reptile House, followed by the new areas for bears, Asiatic lions, chimpanzees and giraffes.