Bagni di Lucca and Beyond

Not far from Soriano is Bomarzo.  The main attraction of the town is The Monster Park, or Bosco Sacro.

Monster Park

The first Monster we came upon

 In the 1500s Prince Pier Orsini employed architect Pirro Ligorio to create a “Villa of Wonders” in homage to his wife after her death.  The park didn’t attract much attention until it was bought by the Bettini family in 1954 and work was begun to restore it.  It is now open to the public and I’m glad it is – I loved it!  It was raining the day we went there, which seemed to add to the wierdness of it. We had the place almost to ourselves.

Rock elephant

the crooked house

What can I say?

I love the dragon

 There doesn’t seem to be a plan for the park.  Huge statues hewn from rock appear at random as you wander about.

The most famous statue

I have a book of photos of Italy by Herbert List and this is open mouth is on the cover with a shepherd standing in the mouth while his sheep wander about.  I’m delighted to have found the park.