The “Sacred Grove” is located on the border between the Lazio and Umbria regions.

Within a thicket of trees and plants, special stone sculptures are hidden. Most of them are figures with mystical connections: monsters, dragons, elephants, temples, giant fierce deer, and women — all of enormous size. The park was built in the 16th century at the request of a Roman noble family prince, Pier Francesco Orsini, who was the Prince of Bomarzo.

The prince asked the architect Pirro Ligorio to carve figures from the basalt rocks scattered around the area, giving them a soul in their shape to “unburden his heart” (“sol per sfogare il core”) following the heartbreak caused by the death of his wife.

The figures, which sometimes appear threatening and sometimes lifelike, are of dreamlike creatures. To this day, the meaning of the sculptures is not always clear, and what the sculptor intended to express with each figure remains a mystery.

The park also includes a rich botanical world with a variety of trees, herbs, shrubs, and flowers and emphasizes recycling and ecological awareness.

This is the oldest park in the modern world where sculptures have been carved directly into natural rock.

There is a café/restaurant on site.