Labarinto della Masone facts for kids
The Labirinto Della Masone (which means The Mason Labyrinth) is a super cool place in Italy. It was built by a man named Franco Maria Ricci (1937-2020). He got the idea from his friend, the famous writer Jorge Luis Borges. This amazing maze was once the biggest in the whole world!
Even though Franco Maria Ricci is no longer with us, this huge maze is still a popular spot for visitors. It's located in a town called Fontanellato, close to Parma, Italy. The maze itself is made entirely of bamboo plants. It's about 8 hectares big, which is like 15 football fields!
What You Can Find There
The Labirinto Della Masone is more than just a maze. It's a whole cultural park!
The Arts Complex
Right next to the maze, there's a special arts center.
- Museum: This museum shows off Franco Maria Ricci's very unique art collection. He also collected old typefaces, which are like different styles of letters used in printing. He had many from a famous designer named Giambattista Bodoni.
- Art Gallery: There's another gallery that displays Franco Maria Ricci's own work. He was a graphic designer, which means he designed things like books, posters, and logos.
Other Cool Places
The site also has other fun and interesting areas:
- A publishing house, which is where Franco Maria Ricci started his book-making business.
- Rooms for temporary art shows, where new art is displayed for a short time.
- Places for meetings and conferences.
- Venues for concerts and other performances.
- A fancy restaurant where you can eat delicious food.
- A cozy café for snacks and drinks.
The museum is also part of a group called the Association of Castles of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza, and Pontremoli. This means it's connected to other historic castles and sites in the area.
World's Biggest Bamboo Maze
For a while, the Labirinto Della Masone was the biggest maze in the world. But in 2018, a new maze in Yancheng, Jiangsu, China, called the "Yancheng Dafeng Dream Maze," became even bigger.
Even though it's not the absolute biggest maze anymore, the Labirinto Della Masone is still the largest bamboo maze on the planet! It's a truly unique and fun place to explore.
- Official website: Labirinto Della Masone
