Places : The Park Of Monsters

This is the love story of the Prince Pier Francesco Orsini and his wife, the Princess Giulia Farnese from Bomarzo.


Pier Francesco, also called Vicino, was born in the south of Italy in 1523.
He inherited the duchy of Bomarzo seven years after the death of the father, around 1530, thank to intercession of cardinal Alessandro Farnese (the future Pope Paul III).

When he met Alessandro's relative, Giulia Farnese, it was love at first sight!
They married and used to live happily in the Bomarzo duchy.





During that period, Vicino was a good condottiero and patron of the fine arts and he dedicated his life to his loved wife.

His career as condottiero ended in the 1550s, when he was taken prisoner and the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis ended the French-Spanish Wars in Italy.

Orsini then retired to Bomarzo where he surrounded himself with literates and artists, and devoted to an Epicurean style of life, which negated any contact with religion.

Unfortunately, on 1560, the Pricess died. 
What a shame.



Vicino, destroyed by pain, spent the next 20 year closed in his room, reading classical books and stories.



His love for the Princess was so strong that he couldn't forget about her, and, influenced by his new classical culture, one day he decided to build a wonderful park, dedicated to Giulia.

He called the architect Pirro Ligorio (who also completed the Cathedral of Saint Peter) and told him : "I want you to create  a Villa of Wonders to be the only one of it's kind in the world. To my Princess' memory."

The Leaning Tower

The Leaning Claudio

The park was completed in 1552 and, after a period in which it was abandoned after the Prince death (it was expensive to maintain), in 1954 it was bought by Mr Giovanni Bettini who with loving care has managed it.

A visit to the park will unfold in a series of stages ranging between mythology and fantasy....

The Village of Bomarzo

Where to Eat.
There is a good picnic area where you can eat your own sandwich, or buy something at the Bar inside the park.

Where is it.
"The Park of Monsters" is near Bomarzo, in Province of Viterbo, about 1 hour from Rome.
From Rome, by car, take the A1 Highway and exit on Orte SUD, then follow the indications.

It is difficult to reach Bomarzo by public transport (that's why it's still so unknown).

Anyway there are trains from Termini Station to Orte Scalo or Viterbo.
From there you can take a Cotral  bus to Bomarzo.

When to Go.
The park is open all year long from 8.00 a.m. until sunset but before going I'd suggest to
contact directly the park on telephone number +39761924029.