the beautiful sacro bosco in the center of italy was designed by vicino orsini in the 16th century to be a deeply magical experience, an enchanted forest not dissimilar to the ones from fables or dreams. rough sculptures - now covered in dirt and moss - emerge from the stones of the grove, depicting mythological creatures and monsters; the purposefully leaning house, the remains of a theatre stage, the engravings and the inscriptions all contribute to an authentic aura of mystery which transcends the test of time. i want to zoom in in particular on the inscriptions - the ones that are still legible - which serve both as a guide to the park and as a way of artistic expression. i've found them to be deeply fascinating, showcasing a peculiarly rough & dreamy poetic quality.
OGNI PENSIERO VOLA
EVERY THOUGHT FLIES
SOL PER
SFOGAR
IL
CORE
ONLY TO
UNBURDEN
THE
HEART
ANIMVS
QVIESCENDO
FIT PRVDENTIOR
ERGO
THE SOUL
WHEN RESTING
GROWS WISER
SO
VOI CHE PEL MONDO GITE ERRANDO VAGHI
DI VEDER MARAVIGLIE ALTE ET STVPENDE
VENITE QVA DOVE SON FACCIE HORRENDE
ELEFANTI LEONI ORSI ORCHI ET DRAGHI
YOU WHO WANDER THE WORLD EAGER
TO SEE GREAT AND STUNNING MARVELS
COME HERE WHERE THERE ARE HORRENDOUS FACES
ELEPHANTS LIONS BEARS OGRES AND DRAGONS
NOTTE ET GIORNO
NOI SIAM VIGILI
ET PRONTE
A GVARDAR D'OGNI
INGIVRIA QVESTA
FONTE
NIGHT AND DAY
WE ARE VIGILANT
AND READY
TO GUARD FROM ANY
INJURY THIS
FOUNTAIN
SE RODI ALTIER GIA FV DEL SVO COLOSSO
PVR DI QVEST'IL MIO BOSCO ANCHO SI GLORIA
E PER PIV NON POTER FO QVANT IO POSSO
IF RHODES WAS ONCE PROUD OF ITS COLOSSUS
MY GROVE TAKES PRIDE IN THIS ONE TOO
AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DO MORE I DO WHAT I CAN
TV CH'ENTRI QVA PON MENTE
PARTE A PARTE
ET DIMMI POI SE TANTE
MARAVIGLIE
SIEN FATTE PER INGANNO
O PVR PER ARTE
YOU WHO ENTER HERE CONSIDER IT
PIECE BY PIECE
THEN TELL ME WHETHER SO MANY
MARVELS
WERE MADE FOR DECEIT
OR FOR ART
CHI CON CIGLIA INARCATE
ET LABRA STRETTE
NON VA PER QVESTO LOCO
MANCO AMMIRA
LE FAMOSE DEL MONDO
MOLI SETTE
HE WHO WITH ARCHED BROWS
AND TIGHT LIPS
DOES NOT WALK THROUGH THIS PLACE
ALSO FAILS TO ADMIRE
THE WORLD'S FAMOUS
SEVEN WONDERS
