Big Bench #230 is one of the most delightful and distinctive artistic installations in the Emilian landscape — a giant red bench perched in the mountains above Castelnovo ne’ Monti, part of the global Big Bench Community Project that has placed over two hundred of these iconic oversized seats across the Italian countryside to invite people to slow down, to look up, and to see the world afresh.
When you sit in the Big Bench, you become a child again in the best possible sense: small against the vastness of the mountains, enchanted by the view, and reminded of what it means to simply be present in a beautiful place.
The bench is positioned to offer a sweeping panorama across the Reggiano Apennines, with the extraordinary profile of the Pietra di Bismantova visible in the distance and the great forested ridges rolling away in every direction. The view changes with every season: brilliant with wildflowers in spring, deep and verdant in summer, blazing with colour in autumn, and austere and crystalline in the snow of winter.
The installation is freely accessible and requires only a short walk from the nearest parking area, making it perfectly suited to visitors of all ages and fitness levels. It has become one of the most photographed and cherished spots in the province, drawing visitors from across Italy and beyond who come specifically to experience this unique combination of art, landscape and joyful perspective.
The Big Bench is best visited at dawn or at the golden hour before sunset, when the light on the Apennine ridges is at its most breathtaking and the bench itself glows red against the sky.
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