OF MONSTERS AND MEN

Leave the beaten track and enjoy a full-day excursion to Tuscia, the countryside north of Rome.

A host of magnificent monsters and mythological creatures have been haunting a woodland area near the small town of Bomarzo since the 16th century. A dragon, a three-headed dog, an ogre, a siren, a winged horse, all hide within the town’s Monster Park. Follow your guide on an exciting safari through the gardens and see how many beasts you can spot. You will discover the history of this sculpture park and unveil the legends and symbolism behind the fantastical animals and mysterious buildings you will encounter.

As you roam down winding paths you will come across an elephant, a giant turtle, a fish-head, a tilting tower, a temple and many more oddities. Renaissance architect Pirro Ligorio designed Bomarzo in 1552 as an expression of the outlandish ideas of its patron and owner Pier Francesco Orsini whose purpose was to create a Villa of Wonders to entertain both himself and his guests. The monstruous figures scattered throughout the park appear to be unrelated to any rational scheme and conceived, on the contrary, with the sole aim of surprising, teasing and astonishing the onlooker. Or so it would seem, reading some of the sentences carved into the Monster Garden’s tuff stones: “Just to set the heart free” or “Thou, who enter this garden, be very attentive and tell me then if these marvels have been created to deceive visitors, or for the sake of art”.

Later set off for Caprarola where, after some time at leisure for lunch, you will explore Palazzo Farnese. This impressive pentagonal 16th century mansion dominates the town and makes an unmistakable statement about the wealth and prestige of the Farnese family. We owe its present appearance to architect Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola who, between 1559 and 1573, designed and built a palace on the pre-existing foundations of a military structure at the request of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, grandson of Pope Paul III. Unmatched for its grandeur and inventiveness, the villa is a fine example of Mannerist architecture. The numerous chambers and halls are decorated with a dazzling array of frescoes representing mythological scenes and celebrating the glory of the Farnese family. Not to be missed is the beautifully painted Room of the World Map, displaying the whole world as it was known in 1574 when the frescoes were completed.

Enjoy a stroll through the garden – just as remarkable as the villa itself – before returning to your accommodation in Rome.