Bomarzo Pictures

Explore! offers 16 active vacations, short breaks and family tours in Italy. e.g. Brochure | Tuscan Family Adventure | Cycle Sardinia | Europe Tours | Best of Italy

Back | Next

Parco dei Mostri, with Hercules implacably tearing Cacus in half.

Italy Pictures: Rome | Venice Carnival | Genoa | Beaches | Italy images

Information: Rome Travel Guide | Italy Travel Guide | Map | Europe Map | Tours

Bomarzo's weird Monster Park, also known as The Sacred Wood, is an easy 68kms drive from Rome and only 15kms [10miles] from medieval Viterbo.
Constructed in 1552 under the command of Prince Orsini and created by the eye of Vatican architect Pirro Ligorio, the place is a tranquil, beautiful and bizarre escape from busy Italy, with trickling streams, waterfalls and shady walks interrupted only by vast by mythical creatures or structures representing the union of death and nature. Statues include Cerberus [guardian of the Underworld]; a full-size elephant killing a Roman legionary [recalling Hannibal's attack on Rome]; a dragon fighting a dog, lion and wolf; Pegasus the flying horse; Neptune talking to a dolphin, a leaning house and much more.