Bomarzo (VT), Lazio
The Monster Park, which in reality is called "Sacro Bosco", is a work designed by Vicino Orsini, prince of the known family, and the architect Pirro Ligorio.
Located on the slopes of the town of Bomarzo, in the province of Viterbo, it was built around 1552.
The main feature of the park is the lack of rationalist and perspective criteria. In fact, during the Renaissance period it was common to create naturalist architectures, in which the park is completely in toto, but every perspectival and geometric criterion was always respected, even if using a more manneristic type of sculpture.
In this case, however, there is a total absence of the common criteria at the time. Each sculpture by Bomarzo is made from pebbles, and is placed in a context of various mythological figures, monsters, but at the same time houses, fountains and funerary temples.
Seemingly without criteria, the park responds to the need for a path that the spectator must perform. The total lack of proportion is a dreamlike vision of reality: as in a dream everything is distorted and devoid of real physical laws, even the park does not meet the criteria of nature and proportions.
This lack of criteria leads the viewer to lose the connection from reality and enter the dream. In this way he can free the monsters, because the dream is the field where reality and the world beyond reality come into contact.
Near Orsini, not by chance, he realized the work following the death of his wife, and a bit like in the myth of Orpheus, he tried to devise a dreamlike way to reunite with it.
Once he also left, the park was abandoned. Only in recent centuries has it been brought to light, thanks also to the appreciation of Goethe and Dalì, who have drawn inspiration for their works.
As you can see there are almost 40 sculptures to deal with, in a journey lasting about an hour, an hour and a half.
The route is suitable for everyone. In the case of wheelchair users or disabled people some areas are more inaccessible, but let's say that with a little patience, and also help, it is accessible to everyone.
“It's an amazing garden, an oniric trip in your mind"
How to arrive?
Bomarzo is close to Viterbo, on A1 highway. You can easily get there with A1, taking the exit "Orte" and following the road to Viterbo.
More simple using a smartphone, and the google maps location:
https://goo.gl/maps/VsGXTd6fH4k