Bomarzo, Park of Monsters

Bomarzo is a village of about 2,000 inhabitants about 50 miles north of Rome. Pier Francesco Orsini (1523-1583) was a condotierro, an Italian military leader. Following his capture and imprisonment in war, he retired to his family's estate in the province of Viterbo, turning away from war, politics and religion.

Here is a view of the medieval town of Bomarzo dominated by the palazzo:

And HERE is a link to my short video from atop the distant hill.

Views of the medieval town of Bomarzo:

In retirement, Pier Francesco Orsini devoted his time and efforts to art, creating the Sacred Grove, also called Park of Monsters. Carved out of the natural rock outcroppings, the mythical creatures are scattered about several acres of natural vegetation. The park is open to visitors.

One of Hannibal's elephants attacking a Roman centurion:

The Etruscan Bench

"You, who wander the world,

Anxious to see huge and magnificent marvels,

Come here where you will find hideous faces

Of elephants, lions, bears, ogres and dragons."

Hercules and Cacus:

The Ogre:

The Fury:

The Argentine writer Manuel Mujica Láinez published a novel in 1962 that creates a fictional story of Prince Orsini. The novel became the basis of the opera Bomarzo by Alberto Ginastera. I attended the 50th anniversary performance of the opera in Madrid in 2017. My review is HERE

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