travel health safety world wonders travel directory world festivals tours worlds best beaches exotic places european places english speaking places safari wildlife gap year destination finder travel pictures maps bugbog homepage Maps, tours, pictures, travel guides

Bomarzo Pictures
Italy

italy tours

Back | Next

bomarzo hercules, italy

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

Italy Pictures: Rome | Venice Carnival | Genoa | Italian Beaches | Italy Photos

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.

Italy Photos © Loader