“Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist” ~ Rene Magritte.
Just over an hour from our home we discovered Sacro Bosco. Our neighbors had told us about it and recently went themselves, sharing photos with us. It looked so interesting and so we took a ride on Sunday. It was about an hour & 1/2 from our village of Poggio Nativo. The fee was 11 euros per adult. There were plenty of restrooms and a small cafe area to purchase drinks, sandwiches or candy. There is also a small book shop. You could also bring a picnic lunch as the grounds are quite lovely with lots of shaded spots and a children’s area. The parking was also plenty and free.
https://www.sacrobosco.it/eng/enter.php
Bomarzo is a village at the foot of Mount Cimino in our region of Lazio. This intriguing place was designed in 1552 by Prince Vicino Orsini & Pirro Ligorio (the great architect). The statues are grand and very unique. I found it to be very peaceful and beautiful.
The setting was lovely on a very hot summer day. The large trees offer a lot of shade as you make your way through this park. You are given a map when you purchase your tickets and the flow is easily followed with marked arrows. It really was a nice leisurely walk in a beautiful setting.
“Art is the signature of civilizations” ~ Beverly Sills.
It was pretty busy the day we were there, a Sunday in July. There was only 1 statue we ended up waiting in a line to take a photo in front of. The iconic Orcus mouth. Known as the “hell mouth”. This statue is large and allows you to walk up the steps right into the open mouth as you pose for your photo. The couple in front of us asked us to take their photo, and when it was our turn they did the same. Of course what did Kerri do? As we turned to get our picture, I whacked my head on the tooth of the statue. So be careful! That hurt for a while after and started to bring on a migraine.
We had never heard of this beautiful place until this trip. If you find yourself in Rome, it’s definitely a must see. You could easily spend half an afternoon at the park taking your time and enjoying the beautiful setting. Go early, pack a lunch and then head out on your way. If you are looking for something to get out of the summer heat, this is your place. Or even to get away from the crowds and chaos of Rome, this would be a great option for a day.
Wifi is not our friend here. Once I can upload all the photos I took, I will go back and add them. I hope all is well wherever you are! Just get out and explore. You never know what is just around the corner from you!