The Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, also called the Park of Monsters, is a 16th-century Mannerist garden commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini to commemorate his wife Giulia Farnese. Among grotesque statues, labyrinthine paths, and esoteric symbols, it offers a unique experience. Here’s what to see and know to plan your visit.
– Monumental sculptures: Ogre, dragon, elephant, leaning house, and over 30 works in peperino stone.
– Fascinating history: designed by Pirro Ligorio between 1552 and 1580, abandoned and rediscovered by DalÃ.
– Practical info: open year-round, tickets €15, visit 2 hours, free parking.
– Nearby: Bomarzo, Civita di Bagnoregio, and the Bullicame thermal baths.
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The Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo, also known as the Park of Monsters, is a 16th-century monumental park with mythological sculptures, the Leaning House, and the Ogre. Hours, tickets, and how to get there in the province of Viterbo.
Good to know
Introduction
If you think Renaissance gardens are all order and symmetry, you’ve never seen the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo. Here everything is chaos, surprise, and provocation. Known as the Park of Monsters, it is a forest populated by giant peperino sculptures: dragons, turtles, a war elephant, and the iconic Ogre with its gaping mouth. Every corner hides an enigmatic inscription, like the famous “every thought flies”. It’s not a museum, it’s an experience that will make you feel lost in a 16th-century dream (or nightmare). And the best part? There’s no set path: you get lost and find yourself among stone monsters.
Introduction
If you think Renaissance gardens are all order and symmetry, you’ve never seen the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo. Here everything is chaos, surprise, and provocation. Known as the Park of Monsters, it is a forest populated by giant peperino sculptures: dragons, turtles, a war elephant, and the iconic Ogre with its gaping mouth. Every corner hides an enigmatic inscription, like the famous “every thought flies”. It’s not a museum, it’s an experience that will make you feel lost in a 16th-century dream (or nightmare). And the best part? There’s no set path: you get lost and find yourself among stone monsters.
Historical Notes
The Sacro Bosco was commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, known as Vicino, as a way to work through his grief for his wife Giulia Farnese. Construction began in 1573 under the architect Pirro Ligorio and lasted until 1585. Unlike Renaissance gardens, the grotesque takes center stage here. After the prince’s death, the park sank into obscurity for centuries. It was rediscovered only in the 1940s thanks to a short film by Salvador DalÃ, who called it a unique historical invention. Today it is open to the public and managed by the Bettini family, who restored it.
Historical Notes
The Sacro Bosco was commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, known as Vicino, as a way to work through his grief for his wife Giulia Farnese. Construction began in 1573 under the architect Pirro Ligorio and lasted until 1585. Unlike Renaissance gardens, the grotesque takes center stage here. After the prince’s death, the park sank into obscurity for centuries. It was rediscovered only in the 1940s thanks to a short film by Salvador DalÃ, who called it a unique historical invention. Today it is open to the public and managed by the Bettini family, who restored it.
The Statues That Stare Back
More than statues, they are presences. The Ogre with his mouth wide open is the symbol: step inside and you’ll feel like you’re in a Dantean hell. Then there’s the Leaning House, built on a tilted rock: climb up and your sense of balance will go haywire. Don’t miss the elephant with the tower crushing a legionary, inspired by the Punic Wars, and the dragon fought by dogs. Each sculpture is accompanied by verses carved in stone, often ironic or philosophical. The works are made of peperino, the local volcanic stone, and some are up to 10 meters tall.
The Statues That Stare Back
More than statues, they are presences. The Ogre with his mouth wide open is the symbol: step inside and you’ll feel like you’re in a Dantean hell. Then there’s the Leaning House, built on a tilted rock: climb up and your sense of balance will go haywire. Don’t miss the elephant with the tower crushing a legionary, inspired by the Punic Wars, and the dragon fought by dogs. Each sculpture is accompanied by verses carved in stone, often ironic or philosophical. The works are made of peperino, the local volcanic stone, and some are up to 10 meters tall.
A Labyrinth of Symbols
The park is not just bizarre—it is an initiatory path. Every statue has an allegorical meaning. The two sphinxes at the entrance challenge you: “You who enter here, heed every part and then tell me if these wonders are made by trickery or by art.” The path goes from top to bottom, like a journey into the unconscious. The inscription in the Orsini palace says: “Know yourself, conquer yourself, live for yourself.” Many works reference Orlando Furioso and the Divine Comedy. Do not seek order: getting lost is the point.
A Labyrinth of Symbols
The park is not just bizarre—it is an initiatory path. Every statue has an allegorical meaning. The two sphinxes at the entrance challenge you: “You who enter here, heed every part and then tell me if these wonders are made by trickery or by art.” The path goes from top to bottom, like a journey into the unconscious. The inscription in the Orsini palace says: “Know yourself, conquer yourself, live for yourself.” Many works reference Orlando Furioso and the Divine Comedy. Do not seek order: getting lost is the point.
Why Visit It
1) It is unique in the world: there is no other park like it, a combination of art, literature, and nature. 2) It is a sensory experience: touch the statues, walk inside the Orco, feel the tilt of the leaning house. 3) It is suitable for everyone: children, adults, families. The visit lasts about two hours, almost always in the shade. Plus, the ticket costs €15 for adults, €9 for children aged 4-13, free for under 4. Tip: get the free guidebook for groups, but it’s worth it even on your own.
Why Visit It
1) It is unique in the world: there is no other park like it, a combination of art, literature, and nature. 2) It is a sensory experience: touch the statues, walk inside the Orco, feel the tilt of the leaning house. 3) It is suitable for everyone: children, adults, families. The visit lasts about two hours, almost always in the shade. Plus, the ticket costs €15 for adults, €9 for children aged 4-13, free for under 4. Tip: get the free guidebook for groups, but it’s worth it even on your own.
When to Go
Avoid summer if you don’t like heat, but the woods offer shade. The most magical time is late afternoon when the low light casts long shadows among the sculptures. In autumn, fallen leaves add charm; in spring, wildflowers. The park is open year-round except December 25. In winter it closes at sunset, so morning visits are best. Tip: choose a weekday to have the park nearly to yourself.
When to Go
Avoid summer if you don’t like heat, but the woods offer shade. The most magical time is late afternoon when the low light casts long shadows among the sculptures. In autumn, fallen leaves add charm; in spring, wildflowers. The park is open year-round except December 25. In winter it closes at sunset, so morning visits are best. Tip: choose a weekday to have the park nearly to yourself.
Nearby
After the monsters, take a break at the natural hot springs of Bullicame in Viterbo, a sulfurous thermal spring where Santa Rosa used to bathe. A few kilometers away is Civita di Bagnoregio, the “dying city,” perched on a tuff spur and reachable on foot. The villages of Soriano nel Cimino and Vitorchiano are also worth a detour. If you have time, visit the center of Viterbo with its medieval district of San Pellegrino.
Nearby
After the monsters, take a break at the natural hot springs of Bullicame in Viterbo, a sulfurous thermal spring where Santa Rosa used to bathe. A few kilometers away is Civita di Bagnoregio, the “dying city,” perched on a tuff spur and reachable on foot. The villages of Soriano nel Cimino and Vitorchiano are also worth a detour. If you have time, visit the center of Viterbo with its medieval district of San Pellegrino.
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💡 Did You Know…?
Legend has it that Vicino Orsini, to overcome his grief, created an initiatory path. They say that whoever enters the Ogre’s mouth, uttering ‘every thought flies away,’ finds inner peace. Even today, visitors feel a thrill crossing that stone threshold.