The Monster Park – a love story?

Bomarzo, Italy

Is it possible to see something other than castles and ruins for one minute please.

Welcome to Sacro Bosco, Bomarzo Italy’s very own, very cool Monster Park.

These monsters live in the forest on the outskirts of a small Medieval town.

They are the sad and violent sculptures commissioned by a grieving man in the 16th century.

That grief stricken man was Pier Francesco Orsini. He created the gardens to deal with the loss of his wife Giulia.

His pain and anger is scattered throughout the gardens taking random forms with no descriptions or explanations.

The gardens and statues were abandoned until the 19th century and were taken back by the lush foliage.

Spanish painter Salvador Dali brought the spotlight back with a movie and painting about the Monster Park.

Can you imagine hiking or camping and finding these incredible(ly) creepy and beautiful statues hidden under the bushes and moss?

Standing here you feel the violence of this scene and sadness for the dragon.

This elephant has a soldier in its grip at the front, and not in a good way.

This one is called the Hell Mouth:

And then something fun for the kiddos:

Which there were quite a few of enjoying their miniature monster playground in the sunshine.

The Monster Park plunges you into a silent forest of terrifying beauty and I loved every minute of it.