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Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeIt takes 1 second to get in and at least 2 hours to find your way out of the world's largest bamboo maze. The <a href="http://www.labirintodifrancomariaricci.it/?lang=en">Labirinto della Masone</a> officially opened on June 1, 2015 in Fontanellato, near Parma, Italy. It is not easy to navigate. There are very few reference points and all of the hedges look the same with corridors that are nearly 10-feet-wide and 10-feet-long. Created by 78-year-old Italian graphic designer, art publisher and collector <a href="http://www.francomariaricci.com/">Franco Maria Ricci</a>, the Labyrinth is eight hectares in sum and a lot of fun. Learn more about this unique experience after the jump.1
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci2
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci3
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci4
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci5
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci6
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeThe overall length of the tangled paths is about 1.8 miles. And the maze’s endless green fences are comprised of nothing but a lush bamboo plantation. More precisely, over thirty species of bamboo were used to grow this spectacular, but confusing geometric wall pattern. <br> </br> <em>Image © <a href="http://www.massimolistri.com/">Massimo Listri</a></em>7
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeWhy bamboo? Inspired by writings of Jorge Luis Borges and Italo Calvino, Franco Maria Ricci decided in 2004 to build a labyrinth. <br> </br> <em>Image © <a href="http://www.massimolistri.com/">Massimo Listri</a></em>8
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeIn addition to the endless green maze, the Labirinto della Masone complex offers visitors over 50,000 square feet of cultural spaces. <br> </br> <em>Image © <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/marcocampanini">Marco Campanini</a></em>9
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci10
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeThe Labyrinth features several <a href="http://inhabitat.com/herault-arnod-renovates-an-aging-french-bricked-garage-into-contemporary-glazed-offices/">brick buildings</a>, including a museum hosting Ricci's permanent private collection of about 500 works of art dating from the sixteenth to the twentieth century and a library dedicated to the most famous examples of typography and Italian graphics. <br> </br> <em>Image © <a href="http://www.maurodavoli.com/">Mauro Davoli</a></em>11
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeThe middle section, surrounded by an expansive portico, is made up of a 22,000 square foot central piazza designed for open-air concerts, events, art installations and exhibitions. <br> </br> <em>Image © <a href="http://www.maurodavoli.com/">Mauro Davoli</a></em>12
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeFinally, the terminal part comprises an evocative <a href="http://inhabitat.com/scientist-discover-how-ancient-egyptians-transported-huge-pyramid-stones-across-desert-sand/">pyramid</a> housing a chapel, an unusual fixture for a catholic sanctuary. <br> </br> <em>Image © <a href="http://www.maurodavoli.com/">Mauro Davoli</a></em>13
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci14
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci15
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive maze<em>Image © <a href="http://www.maurodavoli.com/">Mauro Davoli</a></em>16
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci17
Labirinto del Masone: Aging Italian artist uses bamboo to speed up growth of massive mazeLabrinto della Masone by Franco Maria Ricci18
