Lions and Tigers and Dragons...OH MY!
Written: Aug 04 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great for Children!
Cons: You gotta go all the way to Italy to see it.
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| seevango's Full Review: Italy |
“You who wander the world wanting to see great and wonderful marvels, come here to see…elephants, lions, bears, ogres and dragons.” That’s Prince Vicino Orsini invitation to what must have been the Disney World of the mid 1500s. Just north of Rome is a spot known as the Monster Park. An eerie place filled with giant sculptures of fanciful creatures and allegorical monsters scattered around acres of woodland.
I am working up a trip to Rome, Milan, and Venice next summer, part of a Christmas present for my mother. I was looking for off beat places to visit on the route between the three cities. That’s when I found the small town of Bomarzo, Italy, and the Monster Park.
Roughly forty miles north of Rome, the Park is open daily and is nestled in the wooded terraces of an Italian hill. Dating back to the mid sixth century, the park was built by Prince Vicino Orsini for his wife. It stands as a monument to the taste for the fantastic and grotesque characteristic of the Renaissance Era. Orsini put the statues up to astound visitors. In the mid 1500s, few citizens had ever seen an elephant, lion, or dragon (unless he had too much ale the night before). Today, the park still stands.
The entrance to the park is flanked by two sphinx statues, who’s base hold the inscription: “You who enter here, consider each thing well, and tell me then if these many marvels are made with deceit, or with art.”
The park’s path meanders past gigantic animals, gods and monsters. There is an enormous tortoise with a female figure on its back, labeled Winged Victory. A series of fountains leads the visitor to one of the parks most popular attractions: the Leaning House. The tilt of the walls and floors can easily throw anyone off balance. My mom, who gets dizzy walking up stairs (Sorry, Mom) won’t make it through the Leaning House.
You can find Neptune, elephants, and even a dragon being attacked by a lion at the park. But most enchanting of all is the monstrous ogre with his cavernous mouth open. You can walk in and rest at a stone table carved inside.
Wind and time have softened the features of the stone statues, but the park still draws thousands each year. It is open daily dawn to sunset and there is a small admissions fee. For addition information, you can contact the park at 0761-924029. To see photos and more on the history of the park, check out www.italyitalymagazine.com/destina/bomarzo.htm
We plan on stopping at the Monster Park on the way to Milan for an enjoyable break from the museums!
I just found another review on the park by one of Epinions best travel reviewers! Check out his review at http://www.epinions.com/./trvl-review-720F-803CA72-38A1AC5B-bd3
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
seevango
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Location: Louisiana
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 2 members
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