Dear Splatters,
Welcome to Sacro Bosco! It was designed by Prince Vicino Orsini and the great architect Pirro Ligorio in 1552. The park is unique, even if it belongs to the erudite architectural-naturalistic culture of the second half of the sixteenth century. Refined Italian style gardens follow geometric and perspective rationality with embellishments such as wide terraces, fountains with water games and mannerist sculptures.
- Orco, is a specific sculpted figure depicting a giant or ogre with an open mouth. Often referred to as the “Mouth of Hell” or “Orcus” (after the Roman god of the underworld), the gaping mouth of the figure invites visitors to step inside, where a small room is carved out. The figure’s mouth bears the inscription, “Ogni pensiero vola” (Every thought flies), adding to its mysterious allure. The sculpture is a key element in the overall theme of the park, which juxtaposes beauty with the grotesque.
Orco [Sacro Bosco] - @Yorgos on Scaniverse
- Cerbero, representing the three-headed dog from Greek mythology that guards the entrance to the underworld. This mythological creature plays a crucial role in guarding the gates of Hades, ensuring that the dead remain in the underworld and the living do not enter.
Cerberus [Sacro Bosco] - @Yorgos on Scaniverse
- Piazzale dei Vasi, stands out as a more traditional, almost classical garden feature, evoking the idea of a grand Renaissance plaza or a formal Italian garden. However, even here, the vases are oversized and exaggerated, adding to the sense of surrealism that pervades the park.
Piazzale dei Vasi [Sacro Bosco] - @Yorgos on Scaniverse
- Tomba, refers to a tomb-like structure carved into stone, but its purpose and meaning are not entirely clear. Its form could symbolize death or the passage to the underworld, echoing other mythological themes in the garden, such as Cerberus and Orcus. However, much of the symbolism in Sacro Bosco is open to interpretation, with some scholars suggesting that these structures were part of Orsini’s way of expressing grief over the loss of his wife or meditations on mortality and life’s impermanence.
Tomba [Sacro Bosco] - @Yorgos on Scaniverse
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour.
Cheers,
Georgios