Here are three surprises from the late Renaissance, complete with gardens, fountains, frescoes and sculptures. They form part of a chain of castles and palaces owned by the local feudal nobility: Orsini (Soriano al Cimino and Vasanello), ), Marescotti – Ruspoli (Vignanello), Farnese (Caprarola, Gradoli, Valentano), Borgia (Civitacastellana, Nepi), Albornoz (Viterbo).
The first appointment – the superb FARNESE PALACE at Caprarola, built in 16th century by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, nephew of Pope Paul III, as a summer residence.The frescoes decorating the piano nobile are the most beautiful example of the Italian Mannerist school. A magnificent park-garden is located behind the palace. The project of the garden with fountains and labytinth was completed by achitect Vignola in XVI th century. In theese temps was admired also by prince Charles de Galles.
The wealth of water is made by the numerous fountains in the Renaissance Park Villa Lante at Bagnaia.
The Monsters’ Park at Bomarzo – the park of incredible stone monsters, created in XIth Century by family Orsini, is a labyrinth of symbols, where “Ladies and knights” might look for what they wanted and wonder till they got lost.The Park- “sacred wood”- is popolated with monsters and tortoises,obelisks,nymphaums and giant statues. After Orsini death nobody cared any longer for this jewel of mannerist art, that after centuries of oblivion has been saved, restored and made know by the present owner famiglia Bettini. At the entrance of the “sacred wood “ we find some lines of poet of the 16th century. One of the enigmatic message:
Voi che pel mondo gite errando, vaghi,
di veder meraviglie alte et stupende,
venite qua, dove son faccie horrende,
elefanti, leoni ,orsi, orche et draghi.
Spectacular Marmore Waterfalls in Umbria, is a man-made waterfall created by the ancient Romans and is one of the tallest in Italy and the tallest man-made waterfall in Europe.