Walk to the Big Bench in Rovato

THE PROJECT

The “Big Bench” in Rovato is a large blue bench placed at the foot of Monte Orfano, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the town and the surrounding area. Known as the “Panchina dell’Accoglienza”, it is located within Villa Cantù, which is home to a psychiatric rehabilitation project run by the Cascina Clarabella Consortium.

The installation is part of the Big Bench Community Project (BBCP), created by the American artist and designer Chris Bangle. The project, which is community-based and aimed at social promotion, offers technical support to those wishing to create new official Big Benches and collaborates with local artisans to create products inspired by the benches, thereby contributing to the local economy and tourism. A portion of the proceeds from sales and donations is donated to the participating local authorities to support local communities.

As Chris Bangle says: “We hope to see more and more of these ‘Big Benches’, so that we can feel like children when we climb onto them and so that new visitors are encouraged to discover the beauty of the landscape.”

THE PATH

To reach the Big Bench, you can park near the Sanctuary of Santo Stefano. Then, once you’ve entered the Villa Cantù park, just follow the blue arrows until you reach the installation.

USEFUL INFORMATION

The route is accessible to everyone, including families with children and strollers. Access to the bench is subject to the park’s opening hours.