There are many places in Italy where the magic and extraordinary atmosphere come together, in a wise and pleasant encounter. Nature and human genius manage, together, to create landscapes able to amaze and surprise, thanks to their charm and their evocative power. Some of these are famous, others less so. Of course, one among them is the phantasmagoric Park of the monsters of Bomarzo, near the city of Viterbo. This park, full of grotesque sculptures depicting mythological and imaginary creatures, has the ability to make us children again, and to make us dream ... with open eyes!
The Monster Park, an all-Italian creation
The odd and brilliant creator of this prodigious wood was the architect and antiquarian Pirro Ligorio. He performed this architectural feat thanks to the prince's request Pier Francesco Orsini. The noble young man called the park Sacred Wood, and dedicated it to his wife, Giulia Farnese. Inside there are impossible architectures, and some mysterious sculptures, which seem to be passages of a larger one alchemical scheme. According to some scholars, the set of symbolic statues would be the result of the ancient Renaissance culture. It refers to the Canzoniere by Francesco Petrarca, All 'Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto, and poems Amadigi and Floridante by Bernardo Tasso. Therefore, despite some fixed points in the understanding of this enigma, it has not been possible to bring out a universal interpretative scheme. In 1585, after the death of the last heir of the Orsini family, the park was left in complete abandonment.
The arrangement of the attractions in the Park is not the initial one, but dates back to the second half of XX century, when the Bettini family took over it and put it back into use. Subsequently, the spouses Giancarlo and Tina Severi Bettini were buried in the small temple inside the park (where the tomb of Giulia Farnese is probably also located). The park covers an area of about 3 hectares and, immersed in its green expanses, can be found sculptures depicting mythological animals, but also buildings. These take up the classic style, but cancel out the perspective, confusing anyone who goes into it. To further complicate the passage of the unsuspecting tourist, there are arcane inscriptions, unfortunately survived in a partial way. Whether it was conceived as an articulated recreational game of the prince, or as an orphic-initiatory path, this strange place never ceases to surprise with its peculiar ethereal and, at the same time, impenetrable atmosphere.
The monsters of Bomarzo, between charm and fear!
At the entrance to the park, they are positioned two Sphinxes, which bear a welcome inscription. In a certain sense, they are designed to welcome tourists, and their appearance has both classical and Egyptian characteristics. When you go deeper, you hardly believe your eyes. The most iconic figure in the park is that of a great man big stone face, with wide open mouth. Inside there are benches and a table and, thanks to the acoustics of the room, the voices of those who enter are amplified and resounded, creating a truly frightening effect. Moving forward, you see one giant tortoise, on which is placed the statuette of a Nike, the Greek symbol of Vittoria. The huge reptile stares at a whale in front of it, which in turn gazes at it insistently.
In front of the Piazzale delle Pigne, then, they can be admired Echidna and a Fury. The first female creature is portrayed with two snake tails instead of legs, while the second has a tail and the wings of a dragon. Two Lions crouched between them, sons of Echidna, and present in the coat of arms of Viterbo.
Then there is a building that embodies the whole grotesque spirit of the park. It was built on an inclined boulder, precisely so that it consisted of a natural slope. This attraction, called Leaning House, makes even the most experienced traveler go astray, causing an almost unreal (and even psychedelic!) effect.
Continuing on this magnificent path, we can come across a big elephant, who carries a tower on his back, and in his trunk holds a Roman legionary (he almost seems to want to crush him!). Wanting to give an interpretation, there could be a mere reference to Hannibal during the Punic Wars.
To enjoy these dream visions, just go to the fantastic Bomarzo Monster Park, where many others await you mythical and imaginative creatures!
