Big Benches in Puglia

Puglia, Italy  Saturday/Sunday 27/28-June-2026.

We first came across the Big Bench project back in 2023 whilst on an inter railing journey to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary [Tirano]. Whilst out walking we spotted a red dot on the distant hillside. A bit of internet and map searching we found out that it was a “Panchina Grande” or “Big Bench” so we went off to investigate.

Big Bench #218.

It is big! There was a clue in the name after all.

The Big Bench Community Project (BBCP) is a non-profit initiative launched by American designer Chris Bangle. It features oversized, brightly coloured public benches placed in scenic, easily accessible spots that make adults feel like children again. It started in 2010 in Clavesana, Piedmont, Italy. Bangle provides the design and building instructions for free to local communities and private sponsors, but the towns themselves are responsible for funding and construction.

The criteria for a bench were that it must be on accessible public land, in the countryside and have beautiful views. Access to the bench must be free and unhindered 24/7. This bench certainly fits the bill apart from the accessibility bit as it was poorly signposted over the last stretch and it took us a while to find it as you can see from all the backtracking.

Big Bench #056.

Very shortly after Mary‘s sister, Sandra, found one in Scotland whilst visiting Arbroath for a parkrun in October 2023. It turns out to be the only one in Scotland and she only stumbled upon it because of some dodgy satnav directions.

Big Bench #457. 

Sandra then came across another one whilst touring Italy this year. Here is brother-in-law George sitting on the one they found during a slow stroll through an affluent area of Cuneo.

Big Bench #451.

Sandra was now winning in the big bench competition 2 to 1. Having forgotten all about them, Mary was inspired to check out the Big Bench Community Project website and discovered there were two in Puglia including a new one had been installed very close to us only last year (October 2025). 

When we first found out about them we thought they were all red but now know different. The icons on the map indicate the colour of the seat and legs.

It had to be done: Saturday on the way back from parkrun we took a little detour to see Big Bench #451 and admire the stunning views from the Belvedere di Caranna over the coastal plain.

Big Bench #194.

It was now Mary 2, Sandra 2 so we just had to visit the other bench in Puglia. Sunday morning, we drove to the outskirts of Taranto to find Big Bench #194. It was a 50 minute drive to near Taranto, then a dirt road for about 1km and a walk around a melon field, only just resisting the temptation to scrump a delicious looking melon! 

I predict we will all be checking out the map whenever we are visiting other parts of Italy and elsewhere to see if we can bag a few more. Nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry!