This is a captivating horror story.
Once upon a time a beautiful wood, full of trees and plants, was turned into a scary and mysterious place. Monsters, dragons and strange fountains emerged from the ground and the legend says that they had the power to make people disappear…
Don’t worry, that’s not true. This is what our imagination created about the Park of Monsters, also known as Villa of Marvels or Sacred Wood, a place that really exists. It is located in the village of Bomarzo, in the province of Viterbo. It’s at about one hour by car from Rome, but it seems to be a world apart.
It was the 1552 and the Prince Vinicio Orsini, together with the architect Pirro Ligorio, decided to animate this wood with bizzarre sculptures: monsters, exotic animals, mythological figures, a funerary temple, fountains and obelisks. The Park of Monsters remained in oblivion until 1954 when Giovanni Bettini bought it and everything came back to life again.
The Sacred Wood is a kind of labyrinth which almost envelops its visitors. It is a unique place, where fear and beauty go hand in hand. Now there are a total of 24 strange sculptures to be admired, including the stunning “Hanging House”.
It is not so big, but it’s a nice surprise because different from any other park you may know. There is a strange atmosphere and it is super interesting for both adults and kids. You only have to let your fantasy go wild!
The park of Monsters is open every day of the year and it is definitely worth a visit. Details on tickets and opening times can be checked at the Sacro Bosco website.
