Bomarzo and Caprarola day trip from Rome or Civita di Bagnoregio and Viterbo
A day trip to Bomarzo, Bagnaia and Caprarola from Rome or Viterbo: the stone monsters of the Sacro Bosco and the hill village of Bomarzo below Palazzo Orsini in the morning, then the water gardens of Villa Lante in Bagnaia and the frescoed Villa Farnese in Caprarola. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Bomarzo and Caprarola in 1 day
Day 1
Sacro Bosco (Park of the Monsters), Bomarzo
Sixteenth-century garden laid out for Vicino Orsini, where giant stone monsters, a leaning house and strange sculptures rise from the rock among the trees.
Historic centre of Bomarzo and Palazzo Orsini
Small hill village above the Tiber valley, crowned by the Orsini family's palace, with quiet lanes and wide views over the Tuscia countryside.
Villa Lante, Bagnaia
Renaissance garden of fountains, cascades and stone tables cooled by running water, with twin small palaces at the foot.
Villa Farnese, Caprarola
Huge five-sided Farnese palace by Vignola above the village, with a spiral staircase, a hall of painted maps and terraced gardens.
Getting there
From Rome, Bomarzo is about an hour and a quarter by car on the A1 motorway; from Viterbo it is about half an hour. Bagnaia is a short drive from Viterbo, and Caprarola about half an hour beyond it. Cotral buses link Rome and Viterbo with the towns, but slowly.
Staying in Rome or Civita di Bagnoregio and Viterbo? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Bomarzo and Caprarola
Spring and early autumn are the best seasons, when the gardens are green and the days mild. Summer is hot, so walk the shaded woods of the Sacro Bosco early. Winter days are short and the gardens bare.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bomarzo and Caprarola on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bomarzo and Caprarola on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bomarzo and Caprarola on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Bomarzo and Caprarola
- Villa Farnese and Villa Lante are both closed on Mondays: plan the day for another weekday.
- The upper gardens of Villa Farnese are seen on guided rounds at set times: check them when you arrive and plan the visit around them.
- A car makes the day easy; buses run from Rome and Viterbo, but they are slow and links between the villas are few.
- The Sacro Bosco is open every day; its paths through the woods are uneven, so wear good shoes, and have lunch in Bomarzo village above it.
- Villa Lante's fountains and water features are at their best on a sunny spring or early summer day.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Historic centre of Bomarzo and Palazzo Orsini: Pitichinaccio, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sacro Bosco (Park of the Monsters), Bomarzo: Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Villa Farnese, Caprarola: Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Villa Lante, Bagnaia: Jeff from Sacramento, CA, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
