This is one place where we wouldn’t mind getting lost. The beautiful star-shaped Masone Labyrinth just opened last month in the Fontanellato region of Parma, and offers over 700,000 square feet of bamboo maze to lose yourself in. Designed by Italian publisher Franco Maria Ricci, the Masone Labyrinth is also home to an art museum, a library and a piazza for special exhibits, weddings and concerts.
The idea for the labyrinth was inspired by Ricci’s close friend, Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges, who was himself a lover of mazes and puzzles. Brought to life with over 200,000 bamboo plants, the maze is the largest in the world and measures over 16 feet high (allowing in very little light), with almost two miles of twisting, turning and dead-end pathways. It’s reportedly difficult to navigate, but the width of the walkways (and several well-placed guides) are there to offer hints and clues to help you find your way back out.
In the art museum, guests will find 500 paintings, sculptures and prints from the 1500s to the 1900s, sourced from Ricci’s personal art collection. The library houses the entire catalog of works produced by his publishing house in the last half century. There’s also a space dedicated to the graphics and typography of Alberto Tallone and Giambattista Bodoni, the latter of which designed the Serif typeface.
Masone Labyrinth is open Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from €18 to €15 (approx. USD $20-$17), and special school pricing and guided group tours are available. The space is also available to reserve for weddings and events.
