Bomarzo is a small town near Viterbo. The Park of Monsters was designed by architect Pirro Ligorio (who completed Saint Peter's Cathedral in Rome after the death of Michelangelo and built the Villa d'Este in Tivoli) on commission of Prince Pier Francesco Orsini, called Vicino.

he park was opened in 1552 as the "Villa of Wonders", the only one of its kind in the world. It fell into disrepair and remained forgotten until 1954 when it was bought by Mr. Giovanni Bettini.