Duration: one full day
Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo and Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola
At Bomarzo, the scenic artifice is overwhelming; the onlooker cannot simply observe the scene because he is immersed in it, in a mesh of sensations […], capable of confounding his ideas, overpowering his emotions, and drawing him into a world that is dreamlike, absurd, playful and hedonistic.
In a lovely wooded valley just a short distance from Rome is one of the most incredible gardens ever created: the Park of the Monsters at Bomarzo. Sculptures inspired by ancient mythology greet you at every turn, leaving you amazed by the technical skill involved and by the unusual subjects shown in strange poses and groupings.
The architect Pirro Ligorio was commissioned by Prince Orsini in 1547 to design and create this magnificent park, which greets the visitor with such architectural marvels as the “leaning house” and monuments engraved with meaningful quotations. Walking through this sacred wood is like venturing into a fantastic mythological world.
We can go from here to the famous Villa Farnese at Caprarola, one of many noble villas built by the Farnese family on their lands. The very best painters and architects of the time were engaged to work on the interior of this sumptuous mansion. Adjoining the villa are the Farnese Gardens, which bear the same name as those on the Palatine Hill in Rome, and are a wonderful example of Late Renaissance garden design. The crowning glory of the villa itself is the “Scala Regia”, designed by Vignola, a spiral staircase supported by 30 columns made from peperino, and which (according to legend) was used by the cardinal to ride up to the first floor on his horse.