Bomarzo, The strange garden of monsters from the Renaissance

On a summer night, almost five hundred years ago, it is not hard to imagine the mixture of fascination and astonishment of the unwary guests that Prince Orsini had brought to his particular forest, populated by a bizarre delirium of stone.

Step by step, the torches would reveal the colossal sculptures hidden in the undergrowth. Around the corner, a new surprise appears.

Continuing to a hidden path another unexpected grotesque arises. It was a scenario not designed to please, but to surprise and shock the privileged visitors of this extravaganza of the Italian Cinquecento.

The Sacro Bosco of Bomarzo, also known as Park of the Monsters, is a unique masterpiece ahead of his time, or rather out of time.

It was created from the hand of a noble patron, Vicino Orsini, described as artist and anarchic, and an architect, Pirro Ligorio, who later would be responsible for continuing the work of Michelangelo in the Vatican.

It's estimated that the works began around 1550 and then the place fell into oblivion for about 350 years, after the death of its creator.
Image by Gilmo Costanzo

Sacro Bosco's layout is merged and has continuity with the environment, in contrast to the rational and geometric gardens of the time.
Image by Gilmo Costanzo

This effect was accentuated after centuries of neglect and the advance of vegetation. The Park of the Monsters was not recovered from its abandonment until well into the twentieth century.
Image by Luca Cerabona

"In Bomarzo the scenery is overwhelming, the observer can not see because he's immersed in a gear of feelings [...] capable of confusing the ideas to harass emotionally, to participate in an absurd, playful and hedonistic world of dreams" (Bruno Zevi, Italian art critic).
Image by Bass Nroll

At the mouth of the orc was originally carved Lasciate ogni pensiero voi ch'entrate ("Abandon all thought, ye who enter here"), as opposed to the famous quote from the Divine Comedy, where over the gate of hell was written: "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here". However, nowadays you can only read ogni pensiero vola (Every thought flies).
Image by Nicola

But if you cross the threshold of this access to the underworld, on the other side there's a chamber with a table where you can rest and cool off... Or can you have a picnic?
Image by 42andpointless

It is unknown the purpose of the design of the park, considered as Mannerist style, preceding the Baroque.

One of the enigmatic epigraphs says"Just to set the heart free", as if it were all just a way to seek a catharsis of the soul.
Image by Luca Cerabona

The stunning leaning house was, unlike the Tower of Pisa, built this way deliberately.
Image by Andrea Marutti

In any case, it seems that tourists appreciate it.
Image by SnoopyHood

Apparently, it is not the only thing that is crooked in the park.
Image by Alfio Green

On the bench of the picture above is read: "You that are wandering through the world, willing to see high and splendid marvels, do come here where there are horrible faces, elephants, lions, bears, ogres, and dragons".
Image by Jordi Chueca

The mausoleum devoted to Vicino Orsini's wife, who died prematurely in the years before the construction of Sacro Bosco, appears to be the most ordinary thing of the entire set.
Image by Nicola

As a bonus, we are including a couple of images from a modern park nearby, that saving the distances, has many similarities with Bomarzo: the Garden of Daniel Spoerri in Seggiano.
Image by Daniele Badini

There are over one hundred sculptures installed from around fifty different artists, as this circle of unicorns captured in an epic winter atmosphere by Daniele Badini.