Bomarzo, Medieval commune in Viterbo Province, Italy
Bomarzo is a small town in Viterbo Province in the Lazio region, situated on a hillside above the Tiber Valley. The notable feature of the place is the Parco dei Mostri, a large garden park filled with numerous stone sculptures and architectural works.
The name derives from an ancient Roman settlement mentioned in early medieval writings. The area later became a territory ruled by various noble families throughout the centuries.
The park was commissioned by a nobleman in the 16th century and displays stone carvings of mythological creatures and fantastical beings from ancient stories. Visitors today can walk among these sculptures and experience how they are deliberately arranged to puzzle and intrigue.
Visitors can explore the garden park at their own pace, and should allow time to see all the sculptures and structures scattered throughout. The grounds are relatively open and can be walked through, though some areas have uneven terrain.
The park contains a building that was deliberately constructed at an angle to confuse visitors and disorient their senses. This unusual design dates from the 16th century and reveals the experimental thinking of that era.
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