European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 25, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I f a visitor Steps inside the giant Ore. Inside sunlight shines through the monster Seyes onto a Stone table and benches. Beasts monsters gods Battle for supremacy in Villa of marvels by Catherine Dawson for the past 440 years giants have been battling in the Woods 60 Miles North of Rome. The giants join by Arre beasts and roman gods in an eccentric Renaissance Garden that has been called Villa of marvels sacred Wood and monster Park. Villa of marvels was the original name for the Garden near Omarzo in the la Oor Latium Region. This was changed to Sacro Bosco or sacred Wood. The name Porco Dei most i or monster Park probably dates to when a playground and Small zoo were added in an attempt to enhance the Garden s Appeal to children. But it is the sometimes whimsical sometimes disturbing figures in the Park that capture the imagination of children. Adults too May find that crossing the Gateway Arch to enter the Garden is a bit like falling through the looking Glass. A pair of Stone sphinxes provides an enigmatic greeting their riddles presented in inscriptions. One is musing Over whether the Garden s marvels Are the makings of Art or of deceit and the other is advising anyone with raised brows and tight lips against entering the Garden. An Arrow directs visitors Down a path to a huge proteus emerging from the sea with a gaping Mouth and bulging eyes. It s not surprising that this sea monster looks so cantankerous for he has been forced to carry a Globe of the world on his Moss covered Stone head. On top of the Globe is a Castle representing the influence of Prince Vicino Orsini who commissioned the Garden in 1552. The real Palazzo Orsini is now the Omarzo town Hall and still overlooks the Park from the Hill above. Orsini chose As the Park s designer Pirro Ligorio whose resume included work on St. Peter s in Vatican City. Together the aristocrat and the Artisan created an environment that is both Serene and surreal. Italian gardens in the 16th Century were used to entertain and impress friends and colleagues. Flowers were Best cascading from pots on balconies gardens contained Stone sculpture and waterfalls and used the land s contours to their Best advantage. The Orsini Garden was no exception to these trends. But it is exceptional in that it eschews the symmetry of the Renaissance Garden. Instead of imposing order on the chaos of nature it blends a disturbing disorder into the natural surroundings. The pleasing sound of a Waterfall that can be detected while gazing at proteus becomes More pronounced after rounding a Bend in the path. But it can t be noticed right away because of the overwhelming sight of two huge Stone giants in the midst of deadly confrontation. The Park s current owner Giovanni Bettini suggests in a Guidebook that this colossal Hercules represents the Triumph of Good Over evil noting its placement near the peaceful Waterfall. Only Orsini and Ligorio understood the full meaning behind the figures carved from massive boulders. Visitors can Only guess at Why the giant Tortoise is carrying the winged lady Victory into the Mouth of a whale and Why the elephant carries a Tower on its Back while mauling a roman Warrior with its trunk. Orsini May have intended his guests to feel uneasy As Well As awed particularly if they were invited to rest in the leaning Cabin of Omarzo a two Story House built on a sloping Rock. But it s surprisingly restful inside the giant Ore. The Best known of the Garden s inhabitants this enormous creature has its Mouth and eyes wide open in a perpetual for Sas Ken rent Imran 7m Temple my built in memory of Zonini t wife. The Little Chapel now contains a memorial to Tina sever Bettini a More contemporary mistress of the Garden. For 848 Kim Row Owma stripes Magazine novembers 199$