Labyrinth of the Masone
A seven-hectare cultural park combining the world’s largest bamboo labyrinth with Franco Maria Ricci’s five-century art collection, housed in a contemporary museum space near Parma.
At a glance
The Labyrinth of the Masone is a sprawling cultural destination designed around a monumental bamboo maze. The park integrates Franco Maria Ricci’s personal art collection—accumulated over fifty years—with spaces for temporary exhibitions, concerts, conferences and gastronomy. The site merges horticultural spectacle with serious curatorial ambition.
History
Franco Maria Ricci, renowned publisher and art collector, conceived this project to showcase his expanding collection and create a multipurpose cultural venue. The labyrinth itself was constructed as the park’s defining feature, using bamboo species from around the world to create the largest maze of its kind.
What you see
The bamboo labyrinth forms the park’s centrepiece, planted with multiple species to create an intricate navigable puzzle spanning the seven-hectare site. Exhibition galleries house Ricci’s collection across five thousand square meters of climate-controlled space. Additional facilities include a restaurant, café and delicatessen, alongside venues for concerts and presentations.
Cultural significance
The art collection spans five centuries and approximately five hundred works, reflecting Ricci’s refined taste. It emphasises connections between periods and artists rather than chronological progression. Strengths include Mannerist paintings, seventeenth-century sculpture, neoclassical works celebrating Napoleon, and twentieth-century pieces including Adolfo Wildt’s sculptures and Antonio Ligabue’s paintings. The collection notably features original plates from Luigi Serafini’s Codex Seraphinianus, published by Ricci’s press. Artists with ties to Parma receive particular prominence, as do works exploring the theme of Vanitas.
Key facts
- Address: Str. Masone, 121, 43012 Fontanellato
- Coordinates: 44.85394838838768, 10.146442651748657
- Phone: 0521 827081
- Website: http://www.labirintodifrancomariaricci.it/it/labirinto/homepage-labirinto/
Practical information
The park accommodates year-round visits, though opening hours and admission prices should be confirmed directly with the venue. Dining and shopping facilities are available on-site.
Getting there
The Labyrinth is located in Masone, near Fontanellato, in the province of Parma in Emilia-Romagna. Contact details and the official website provide directions and transport information.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
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