Gardens of Bomarzo, Sculpture garden and historical park museum in Bomarzo, Italy.
The Gardens of Bomarzo form a historical park in Bomarzo with more than thirty stone figures carved from the volcanic rock of the surrounding area. The sculptures are scattered throughout the wooded grounds and include a reclining giant, a fighting dragon, and a tilted small building.
Pirro Ligorio designed the Sacro Bosco from 1547 for Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, called Vicino, who dedicated it to his wife Giulia Farnese; the sculptures are attributed to Simone Moschino. The garden was abandoned in 1585 after the death of the last Orsini prince. Giancarlo and Tina Severi Bettini restored it from the second half of the 20th century, and Salvador Dalí visited in 1948.
The stone carvings show scenes from Greek and Roman mythology featuring figures like Hercules, Proteus, and Echidna. Visitors read the inscriptions on the pedestals and follow a path full of riddles and references to Renaissance themes.
The park opens daily from 9 in the morning until sunset and is accessible via paved paths that are also suitable for wheelchairs. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as some sections may be uneven and the paths run through wooded terrain.
The mouth of Orcus, inscribed "OGNI PENSIERO VOLA" (All Thoughts Fly) on its upper lip, has acoustics that carry a whisper from inside clearly to anyone standing at the foot of the three steps. Art historian Luke Morgan notes that people once dined at the stone table within, so that the diners seemed at once to eat and be eaten.
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