The Monsters of Villa Palagonia

Villa Palagonia in Bagheria, Italy is famous for a flock of "monsters" on top of its garden walls.

The house was built in 1715, and immediately hailed as an architectural achievement, and one of the finest works of Sicilian Baroque on the island. But the Villa didn’t acquire the strange touch which made it world-famous until 1749, when the deranged Prince of Palagonia ordered a set of gargoyles to line its garden walls. Legions of dragons, soldiers, hunchbacks and freaks of nature look down on visitors from atop stony perches. According to legend, the most freakish faces are meant to caricature the many lovers of the prince’s promiscuous wife.

Get a closer look at these eccentric works and get a tour of the villa at For 91 Days. Link -Thanks, Juergen!


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