Gardens of Bomarzo

The Sacro Bosco ( German Holy Forest ), also known as Park of the Monsters (Italian: Parco dei Mostri ), is equipped with a grotesque monumental sculptures and antique-style architectures Mannerist Park. It is located in a small wooded valley about two kilometers outside the city of Bomarzo in the central Italian province of Viterbo on the northern edge of the Lazio region. There is no known comparable facility in Italy.

History

In more than 30 years of his life ( 1552-1585 ) was Vicino Orsini, the last feudal lord of Bomarzo, da Vignola and successors to create the enigmatic sculpture park Pirro Ligorio by Giacomo Barozzi, which he named Bosco Sacro ( Sacred Grove ). He dedicated it to his deceased wife Giulia Farnese in 1564, daughter of Galeazzo Farnese ( Duke of Latera ), not to be confused with his grandmother ( mother's side) Giulia Farnese, the mistress of Alexander VI. Through the marriage of an Orsini with a family of Farnese - with Paul III. 1534 presented a pope - took place in Bomarzo a peaceful transition from the feudal to the papal central government, which was managed by cardinals.

Vicino Orsini died in 1585, and after his death the plant fell into oblivion for centuries. It was not until the mid-20th century, the weathered and completely overgrown sculptures were rediscovered in the wild forest to the public. Salvador Dalí in 1938, was the first prominent visitors to the park, and some of his motives, he apparently processed in his painting The Temptation of Saint Anthony ( 1946). 1954 acquired Giancarlo Bettini ( † 30 July 1997) and his wife Tina Severi Bettini ( † 28 July 1987) the entire area and took care of in the second half of the 20th century, a nationwide repair. Historians and art historians have been aware of the condition, and there appeared a series of publications. In the 21st century is their tourist use under the new name " Park of the Monsters " a crucial economic factor for the community.

The Sculpture Forest

On a walk through an orchard of visitors along a little stream ( Fosso della Concia ) in the Sacred Forest. Approx. 300 m west of two sphinxes bares a monumental Glaucus teeth.

The rest are 30 sculptures and architectural compositions from the locally abundant peperine - rock of volcanic origin compressed to a less than 2 km ² large area north-east of the creek. After several monumental sculptures ( fighting giants, a female figure on a turtle and a Pegasus ), nymphs and fountains, a small theater in the Greek style over mossy steps is accessible. To the north a lopsided house (Casa Pending ) extends an area surrounded by Greek vases terrace to the group to another monumental sculptures: Neptune - Pluto by other interpretation -, a dolphin, a sleeping woman, a dragon, Ceres and an elephant.

Further north, visitors can descend into the gaping jaws of Orcus - a dark chamber. Back outside, he crossed an open space with a monumental Greek vase in the middle; pass a so-called " Etruscan Bench " (origin and actual function unclear) closes the loop road to the west to another terrace on, bounded by stone pine cones and acorns. Again, this terrace is surrounded by sculptures, namely Cerberus with two heads, two Furies, two bears with the family coat of arms of the Orsini, lions and sirens.

On the hill is a rotunda, from which a further view opens on the city hill of Bomarzo. In a Oktogontempel the restorers couple Bettini is buried. Whether he is also a mausoleum for Giulia Farnese, is suspected of traditional hints of the count, but so far could not be detected.

Interpretations

In an inscription on the Etruscan bank Vicino Orsini seems the visitor to declare his intention to want to create for the world a straying Park of Miracles ( Voi che pel mondo di gite Errando vaghi veder meraviglie old et stupendous ). On the tree of pine cones and acorns terrace reveals another inscription that it constitutes a Bosco Sacro ( Sacred Grove ).

The entire forest sculptures inserted while full of inscriptions that confuse more than illuminate the remainder. Numerous individual interpretations have already been tried, an overarching concept or moralizing program, after has been searched repeatedly, but could not be detected at the end.

In all cases, figures of Greek mythology combine with ancient historical and literary motifs of the Renaissance. The elephant has been associated with Hannibal.

A slightly modified quote from Petrarch's Canzoniere ( Sonnet No. 293) was read in the inscription on a broken column: "Just to make from his heart " Sol by sfogare il core. Other artists they have found a similar quote of Vittoria Colonna.

In the monumental figures - the battle of the giants to Orcus - Topics of Ariosto's Orlando furioso have been recognized; an inscription refers to " Anglante " as the protagonist is alternatively called Ariosto. The forest as Handlungsort happen in the whimsical things that already takes the Orlando Furioso a key role. An enchanted forest with rivers and spring water ( Selva di Oronte ), there are also in Bernardo Tasso processing of the Amadis de Gaula - substance (L' Amadigi di Francia ); in turn refers to this inscription on a Greek vase, day and night are the guardians of this source in order to avoid any wrong by it.

All these assignments seem plausible in the context of Vicino Orsini, whose historical and literary education is so far verified.

However, other tricks in the park refuse to logical assignment. The fact that in the mouth of Orcus is a table that is ideal for banquet, for example, acts as strange as the saying under the nose of the monster: Ogni pensiero vola " Every thought flies".

In view of the many unsolved puzzles in the assignments continues to work the thesis, a concept did not exist; rather Orsini wanted to bring chaos and confusion of the viewer aware of. The thesis is not undecided, because in another inscription can Orsini exactly this point open: Tu ch'entri qua con elements parte a parte et dimmi poi se aunt meraviglie sien fatte by inganno o pure by arte " You, for You piece piece with reason in coming here, tell me afterwards whether so many miracles have been made ​​of the intention to deceive or for art's sake ". Since the Italian word other than " art ", but also "magic " ( in the aesthetic as in the magical sense) may mean, this invitation is subtle and ambiguous.

Tourist use in the 21st century

Few contemporary visitors go, however, today the " Park of the Monsters " - he was given this name until the end of the 20th century - with a scientific interpretation claim to. Families with children from Viterbo to Rome looking for a Sunday excursion to the " Sacred Wood " the peculiar mixture of creeps, amazement, puzzles, games and fun.

The area in the entrance with self-service fast food restaurant point of sale of regional agricultural products, picnic areas, mini zoo, playground and souvenir corner increases the suitability of the park for family outings. The park is very busy, especially at weekends during the summer months. Even international guests come by on the way to Rome, or in a day trip from nearby rural tourism facilities. The limited infrastructure resources Bomarzos are not geared towards long-term guests and package tourism. Nevertheless, the jobs that have been created by the care and maintenance of the park, an important economic factor for the small community.