| One of the vastest wood in this area
and which once covered a larger surface, from the hills on the
southern side of the town, between the Lake Albano and that of
the Fajola, and towards the inner part of the Marino's territory.
The Barco, created in the 16th century as a game reserve from
Marcantonio Colonna, and transformed by his son Cardinal Ascanio
in a fun-fair thanks to the contribution of the architect Girolamo
Rinaldi. The entrance's portal and the ruins on the square
situated at a distance of 400 metres on the hill, belong to
this phase. It is known that there were Roman ruins right in
this area, where according to the legend there was a temple
consecrated to the Ferentina Goddess (or Feronia). Probably
this was the place were the meetings of the Latin League, referred
by Dionigi di Alicarnasso and Livio, took place.
There is no more trace of the Roman ruins, of the fountains
and of the decorative statues, that made the park resembling
that of Bomarzo. However, it is possible to see the entrance's
arch, ruins of niches and other arches, a tow-metre-tall statue
representing a woman without its head, called ‘Cellone',
placed near another statue representing a ‘Morforio'
without its head. After the rivulet you will find a fountain
with a niche and decorative elements representing some grottos.
|
