What’s a giant bench doing in the heart of an olive grove or atop a hill?

It’s not an isolated art installation or a social media quirk, but part of an international project that unites landscape, community, and wonder: the Big Bench Community Project.

Conceived in 2010 by American designer Chris Bangle, the project aims to install giant benches (about 2 meters high) in extraordinary panoramic spots, accessible free of charge to all.
Sitting on a Big Bench means changing your perspective: everything appears smaller, nature larger. You feel like a child again, your gaze expands, and you breathe in beauty.

Each bench is part of an official and numbered network (complete with a passport for collectors) and is built with the help of local communities, becoming an opportunity for slow tourism and a conscious exploration of the local area.

Big Bench Project Criteria

Benches in the official network follow specific rules.
They must be placed in locations accessible to all, away from closed private property and immersed in nature. They must offer a striking panoramic view, be built on a giant scale (approximately 2 m high and 3.5 m long), and follow an approved technical design.

The involvement of the local community is crucial, as they are committed to building and maintaining them over time. Each bench receives an official number and becomes part of the “Big Bench passport,” to be stamped and collected.

The Official Big Benches in Sabina

Here are some of the benches already recognized by the international circuit and available for visits in Sabina or just beyond its borders, all set in landscapes of great beauty:

🟢 BB #246 – Amatrice (RI)
Among the landscapes of the high Rieti mountains, with views of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga. A symbol of rebirth.
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🟢 BB #382 – Fiamignano (RI)
Not far from Lago del Salto, with a panoramic view of the Alta Sabina.
Get Directions

🟢 BB #427 – Ginestra Sabina di Monteleone Sabino (RI)
In a quiet location, among olive groves and woods, with picturesque views of the Sabine hills.
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🟢 BB #435 – Turania (RI) | Video 
Suspended between the valleys of the Sabine Apennines, with expansive views of the surrounding countryside.
Get Directions

Have you found or know of a Big Bench in Sabina that isn’t listed?

Let us know! Send us the location, photos, or details through our official channels. GeoSabina will update the area map to offer everyone new opportunities for discovery.

GeoSabina promotes slow tourism, authentic beauty, and every alternative perspective on our territory.
And there’s no better viewpoint… than from a giant bench.

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All official benches are collected on the interactive map at bigbenchcommunityproject.org