Gemas Ocultas del Lacio : Bomarzo Monster Park, Caprarola & Calcata

Excellent service, professional, friendly and on time. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience and safer driver. It was all perfect

The park is well kept (but not very well) and dotted with these very original and very fascinating stone figures (especially if you have children). The folded house is also original where the sensation of walking inside (it's little more than a room) makes you have fun. If I have to find a flaw it's the cost. 13.00 euros each I would say is too much for what it offers.

Although a little on the expensive side, this tour was a great way to see a number of interesting sites that are near Rome, but hard to get to by public transportation. The first early morning stop was at the late 16th century Mannerist gardens of Bomarzo, with its extraordinary collection sculptured monsters and follies. Then a stop at the Farnese Palace at Caprarola, a must-see for lovers of Renaissance art and architecture. Next was a quick but interesting stop at Sutri to see the rock-cut Roman Amphitheatre, Etruscan tombs, and paleo-Christian church. Lunch was at a good local restaurant at Trevignano sul Lago, a charming small lakeside village. Finally, a few hours exploring Calcata, a quintessential medieval hill-top fortress town, now inhabited by artsy types, colorful characters, and friendly cats.

Our driver Gilberto picked us up in the morning and took us to Bonarzo first. He was informative, funny and really nice. He told us from the beginning that it was our tour and he would do what we wanted. He took us to each tour spot - took us to the ticket booth and made sure we knew how to go around and where to meet up after. Whenever we wnatwd coffee, bathrooms or lunch he stopped and found place to accomodate us. It is not a cheap tour and it is as Gilberto said “Off the beaten path” but it was well worth it. A fantastic day with a wonderful guide!

We had a wonderful quiet day away from the crowds with Gilbert who took us to Calcata and a few more charming towns round Lake Bracciano. It was one of our best days in Italy being away from the crowds and tourist areas. He speaks great English and was very flexible and patient. He’s an excellent guide that lived in CA before and was very knowledgeable about the attractions, history and places to see.

After so many times that we had decided to go to visit this park, we finally succeeded and together with some of our friends we visited this curious park, with statues of various artists who over the years have done their best to decorate the path of the entire park. There are works that really struck me others a little less, but I recommend the visit at least once in a lifetime, perhaps the only out of tune note a price maybe a little high, but if it serves for the maintenance of the park and the works inside, then it is money well spent.

The park is filled with bizarre and fascinating sculptures for which only the accompanying inscriptions provide any explanation. Among the pieces are a war elephant, a monstrous fishhead, a giant tearing another giant in half, and a house built on a tilt to disorient the viewer. When you visit the park, be sure to enter the giant screaming mouth (known as “the mouth of hell”), inside which, on the tongue, stands a picnic table and enough seating for a small group to have lunch. This place is incredible, you walk amount the statues and cannot believe how peaceful the park is. Take your time to visit the park.

I thought it was a children's park only and instead it was a real revelation. The sculptures are beautiful especially considering that they are almost 500 years old! All within a beautiful park very well maintained. Recommended comfortable shoes especially if it rained in the days before. The oblique house is a must even if it is difficult to stay standing... Parking is free.

In this park you can quietly enjoy nature, while walking one encounters some stone sculptures that should definitely be seen. It is something else.

A beautiful park, suitable for families with children, the path is all in the shade so in the hot weather is great for a nice walk, along which you will meet some nice sculptures.