Park of the Monsters Parco dei Mostri Bomarzo

•Located in Bomarzo, in the province of Viterbo, Italy.

•It’s a monumental complex Commissioned in 1552 by Prince Pier Francesco Orsini.

•The Prince, also known as Vicino, had just been through a brutal war, had his friend killed, been held for ransom for years, and come home only to have his beloved wife die. Racked with grief, the Prince wanted to create a shocking “Villa of Wonders”

•The design is attributed to Pirro Ligorio, and the sculptures to Simone Moschino.

•Among the pieces are a war elephant, a monstrous fishhead, a giant tearing another giant in half, and a house built on a tilt to disorient the viewer.

•Perhaps the most frightening piece in the garden is an enormous head, mouth opened wide in a scream.

The accompanying inscription reads “All reason departs.”

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