Inside the forest, you will be catapulted into a fantastic world, populated with mythological animals and gigantic stone monsters that for over 500 years have instilled fear, surprise and wonder in every visitor who passes through it
The Sacred Woods of Bomarzo, better known as Monster Park: an authentic hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.
The visitor is led through a path made up of large statues, surreal buildings, inscriptions and riddles that continually surprise and disorientate him.
A dream kingdom, in which to stimulate the visitor’s intelligence and culture, thanks to a continuous game of mythological references and enigmas, including statues of mermaids, sea monsters, giant turtles, satyrs, sphinxes, dragons, masks, false tombs and illusionistic games.
Regardless of Prince Orsini’s real intentions, it is certain that the entire complex is a great celebration of love aimed at his wife Giulia Farnese. In fact, the Tempietto is dedicated to her, which can be found on a small hill surrounded by a large green area where you can also stop for a picnic break.
The Park of Monsters, also called Sacro Bosco or Villa delle Meraviglie di Bomarzo, is an Italian monumental complex. It is a natural park adorned with numerous peperino sculptures dating back to the 16th century and portraying mythological animals, deities and monsters.
It is a garden populated by 37 strange sculptures, fountains, leaning buildings and obelisks, unique in their kind, which leave the visitor in a state of confusion.
A park full of monstrous statues which, it is said, was created to overcome the loss of Giulia Farnese, beloved wife of Prince Pier Federico Orsini who commissioned the park in her memory. In fact you will find a writing: “born to vent your heart“.
In addition to the Monsters and the main architectural elements listed and described below, there are many other smaller ones, often more degraded over time and therefore also less identifiable
Worthy of note, the Leaning House, entering it creates an illusionistic effect, and obviously the Ogre, the park’s symbolic monster, with a classic obligatory photo
The Ogre
The most famous figure symbol of the Park, a large stone face with a wide open mouth, on whose lips we read the writing EVERY THOUGHT FLY. The internal shape of the environment causes voices and sounds to bounce off the walls, creating a frightening echo.
The Leaning House
One of the major attractions of the Park is a small building built on an inclined boulder and therefore deliberately leaning; the peculiarity is that the interiors have an irregular slope (the floor is not at 90° with respect to the walls), causing confusion and loss of balance in those who enter.
The Temple
Slightly isolated from the main route of the Park there is a singular construction, a small temple which has the particularity of having been modeled on the basis of that of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.
The Dragon
Piazzale dei Vasi, Neptune and the Sleeping Nymph
Echidna a colossal woman with two snake tails instead of legs
The Sphinxes
The two creatures are symbolically guarding the park, and welcome the visitor with welcome inscriptions in hendecasyllables, legible on each base.
Hercules and Cacus or the gigantomachy
Proteus (or Glaucus)
An immense anthropomorphic mask with its mouth wide open, which seems to emerge directly from the bowels of the Earth, surmounted by a large stone globe, on top of which is a small tower
The Elephant, Pegasus Fountain
The Turtle and the Whale group
Tree-statue
The Mausoleum, a large apparently shapeless boulder
the Fury is a woman with a dragon’s tail and wings
Ceres, Goddess of the harvest and mother of Proserpina, is surrounded by figures of woodland creatures.
Cerberus the dog with three heads who guards the Underworld
The Etruscan Bench
The Ram
Proserpina the queen of Hades
Nymphaeum and Venus on the shell
The Giant Vase
The Theatre small reproduction of a stage exedra.
The Picone Square
Children’s Play Area
Before entering the area with the sculptures it is possible to use a children’s play area
Pic-Nic area
Equipped with tables, benches and barbecues in a shaded area, the area can be used by all visitors to the Park. Reservation required for groups only.
Free playpens for dogs
The Park is an open-air museum where dogs are not allowed.
Owners who wish will be able to use the large and comfortable boxes located at the entrance by requesting lock and water bowl at the ticket office. Free service and cannot be booked.
A map is provided at the entrance with the individual stages indicating the sculptures.
Sacro Bosco (Monster Park)
Location Giardino
Bomarzo (Viterbo)
Lazio – Italy