Adrian Fisher’s MAZE WORLD
THE STRA MAZE, AT VILLA PISANI
This is perhaps the most distinctive hedge maze in the whole of Italy,as well as one of the oldest, dating to 1720. It is made particularly impressive by the magnificent stone tower at its center. This broad tower has twin external spiral staircases, which allows visitors to ascent and descent simultaneously at busy times. The staircases with their delightfully decorative handrails give access to doorways set at different levels facing outwards. A statue of Minerva completes the top of the tower.
This unique water maze from 1997 is horizontal in the sense that its water surface is level, and its design is intended to be looked down upon. Robert Irwin described his design as a 'floating' maze which indeed is the impression it achieves, although its azaleas are actually growing in soil within long narrow islands of cast concrete.
