Bomarzo (Lazio)

Bomarzo is a town of the province of Viterbo (Lazio, central Italy), in the lower valley of the Tiber. Bomarzo's main attraction is a garden, usually referred to as the Bosco Sacro (Sacred grove) or, locally, Bosco dei Mostri ("Monsters' Grove"), named after the many larger-than-life sculptures, some sculpted in the bedrock, which populate this predominantly barren landscape. It is the work of Pier Francesco Orsini, called Vicino (1528–1588), a condottiero or mercenary and a patron of the arts. The park of Bomarzo was intended not to please, but to astonish, and like many Mannerist works of art, its symbolism is arcane; for example, one large sculpture is of one of Hannibal's war elephants, which mangles a Roman legionary, and another is a statue of Ceres lounging on the bare ground, with a vase of "fruits of the earth" perched on her head. The many monstrous statues appear to be unconnected to any rational plan and appear to have been strewn almost randomly about the area, sol per sfogare il Core ("just to set the heart free") as one inscription on an obelisk says.

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Recipes From Lazio

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This re-interpretation of a Roman favorite is a sure hit for summertime.

Recipes

This delicious pie is filled with sweet fluffy ricotta, perfectly balanced with a tang of sour cherry jam.

 

Recipes

Looking for a go-to daily soup? This nourishing bean, pumpkin and kale soup is the perfect recipe to pair with freshly-pressed extra virgin olive oil. 

Recipes

Fast and filling, this rustic Roman dish is perfect for a hassle-free summer dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor.

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