Monte Casoli di Bomarzo Nature Reserve

Bomarzo

The superimposition of dwellings over the centuries makes Today's name of 'Bomarzo' would appear to have its roots in the Latin 'Polimartium', a compound of two terms, the Greek Polis and the Latin Martis, meaning 'the City of Mars', bearing witness to the widespread cult of this divinity. We find it mentioned for the first time in the Historia Langobardorum by historian Paolo Diacono.
Bomarzo is situated on one of the last rocky spurs ('peperino') looking over the Tiber valley.
The strata of lava rock are in these extreme outposts relatively thin and overlay extensive plains of clay which the constant wear of wind and weather continually consume. The crumbling of the clays leads to landslips and the tumbling down to valley bottom of enormous, shapeless blocks.
These blocks scattered on the slopes have been used by man in various ways since the dawn of time, especially during Etruscan, Roman and Medieval times when they were utilised for many different purposes connected with the life of society, economy, religion and art. This use, still in progress today, saw its culminating point in the creation during the 16th century of the 'Parco dei Mostri' (Monsters' Park): when these blocks of 'peperino' were moulded into fanciful shapes, by order of Prince Pier Vicino Orsini.
it difficult to distinguish with certainty Etruscan and Roman remains: the nearest Etruscan necropolis nucleus is to be found at Monte Casoli. Again at Monte Casoli we find a series of 'colombari' (burial niches) dating back to early Roman times, with several cells for burial urns containing the ashes of the deceased.
In the attractive historic centre of Bomarzo, known as 'Il Dentro' (inside), perched on a spur of volcanic rock, there are several buildings in grey 'peperino'. These include the imposing palace of the Orsini family, open to visitors and containing numerous works of modern art. Particularly interesting is the Piazza del Duomo (Town Square), dating from the 16th century, with its church dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, founded in Early Christian times and with a Romanesque ground plan, inside which are preserved the remains of Sant'Anselmo.
Some time in the 15th century, an increase in population led to the expansion of Bomarzo: this period saw the birth of 'Il Borgo' along the main street of the town and subsequently 'Il Poggio' on a low hill overlooking Bomarzo.