Little Monsters

Posted on: October 9th, 2013 by Carrie Young No Comments

A park full of monsters, dragons, mermaids, giant wrestlers, crooked houses and a giant ogre’s Mouth of Hell may sound like a perfect setting for a Halloween party- or a Lady Gaga video- but it’s actually a fascinating garden below the medieval town of Bomarzo in Lazio, Italy- a day trip from Rome. Parco dei Mostri, otherwise known as Park of the Monsters and Sacred Grove, is a manieristic monumental complex that includes 24 larger than life sculptures made from natural bedrock, such as Hannibal’s Elephant, and Dragon with Lions, as well as monuments like The Temple of Eternity, an octagonal building with a mixture of classical, Renaissance and Etruscan genres.

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Designed in the 16th Century by the architect Pirro Ligorio- also known for Villa d’Este- Parco dei Mostri was commissioned by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, as this patron of the arts wanted to create a place just outside his family’s castle that would reflect his profound sadness after his beautiful wife had died. The style was not intended to please, but to astonish by encompassing a variety of influences from artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. The monstrous statues appear to be unconnected to any rational idea or plan, and appear to have been placed about randomly.

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The surreal nature of the park appealed to the master of all surrealists, Salvador Dali, who would discuss the fantasy world that is Parco dei Mostri at length. During the 19th and 20th Centuries, these dramatic grounds became neglected with overgrown weeds and a shabbiness that was more scary than chic- which most likely attributed to its moniker Park of the Monsters. However, it was restored in the 1970’s- yet remains private property- and today attracts writers, poets and creatives from all over the world, having become a major tourist attraction. And I bet Lady Gaga has definitely ventured inside that giant ogre’s mouth… www.parcodeimostri.com