Temple of Aesculapius

The Temple of Aesculapius looks ancient from across the water, but its setting is an eighteenth-century garden composition. It stands on an artificial island in the Giardino del Lago, where columns, sculpture, trees, and reflections form a view arranged for the walker.

The lake garden was developed for Marcantonio IV Borghese by Antonio Asprucci and his son Mario, with landscape advice from Jacob More. The temple's decoration includes ancient sculpture restored and supplemented for the new setting. Vincenzo Pacetti worked on the figure of Aesculapius and on sculptural elements of the building.

Aesculapius is the Roman name of the Greek healing god Asclepius. The dedication evokes the authority of classical culture within a place of leisure. This building is distinct from the ancient sanctuary associated with the god on Rome's Tiber Island.

Look from more than one point on the lakeside path: the reflection and the spacing of the trees change the apparent composition. The map pin marks the temple itself, while walking directions lead to the lakeside. The island is not a pedestrian destination.