VENICE.- The restoration of the Labyrinth of the Giorgio Cini Foundation, dedicated to the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), occured on the fortieth anniversary of his death.

Considered one of the most beautiful and evocative labyrinths in Italy, it has been renewed after fifteen years, thanks to the support of PwC Italy, which participated as the main sponsor in this important restoration project.

The Borges Labyrinth has become an iconic landmark on the Island of San Giorgio, forming an integral part of the monumental complex. Designed by Buora and Palladio, it is almost a third cloister, capable of uniting the ancient with the contemporary, architecture with literature, and the landscape. Opened to the public in 2021 thanks to guided tours organised by VisitCini, it has attracted over 25,000 visitors in the last five years.

Renata Codello, Secretary General of the Giorgio Cini Foundation: «The restoration and ongoing preservation of the island and its heritage have been a cornerstone of the Cini Foundation since 1951. This is a constant effort – a precise, long-term project that is both scientific and visionary – based on a concept of conservative restoration that is not merely a response to emergencies but a process of adapting the past to the present. The Giorgio Cini Foundation has always viewed the island as a restoration laboratory in the heart of the city of water, bridging the past and the future, combining rigor with creative challenge. This project at the Labyrinth demonstrates how it is possible to restore a vegetal architecture that is volume, geometry, a meditative space, and a page of literature.»

Giovanni Andrea Toselli, Chairman and CEO of PwC Italy: «The restoration of the Borges Labyrinth is a particularly significant project for PwC Italy because it combines heritage preservation, cultural promotion, and a focus on accessibility. Supporting this initiative alongside the Giorgio Cini Foundation means helping to make a site of great artistic and symbolic value more accessible and open to diverse audiences, while respecting the unique setting of the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore. This is the direction of our commitment through PwC for Culture: tompartner with leading cultural institutions on projects that preserve memory, foster participation, and create value for communities.»

The restoration project:

Work began with the removal of 165 dead or damaged boxwood plants (Buxus sempervirens) and a thorough inspection of the irrigation system. Following the inspections, the malfunctioning lines were replaced, thereby restoring the system to full efficiency.

The groundwork involved fertilization and the addition of approximately two cubic meters of new, suitable soil to promote proper root establishment of the new plants. Subsequently, new boxwood plants of the same species were planted; these were selected for their already well-developed canopies and pruned to blend in with the existing shape of the maze.

Thanks to constant monitoring of the plants’ growth and irrigation, it was possible to verify that the new plants had taken root. The plants that had not responded well were replaced with an additional 30 specimens. In parallel with these operations, weeds were manually removed throughout the maze to promote the growth of the new plants and maintain the overall harmony.

An even more accessible place

The restoration also included two major projects to improve accessibility to the labyrinth.

The first intervention concerns the entrance pathway, with the removal of excess gravel, the tracing and levelling of the paths, and the installation of certified honeycomb panels designed to create accessible routes also for people with mobility impairments. The consistency of the surface of the access paths to the labyrinth, made possible by this gravel stabilisation intervention, makes the approach route natural, pleasant, and safe.

Thanks to the partnership with the Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted (UICI – Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti) Gabriele Marino, President of the Venice Territorial Section, a tactile map reproducing and explaining the Labyrinth has also been created and installed. It allows visitors to obtain information about the route before immersing themselves in the boxwood pathways.

Renata Codello emphasises: «The issue of accessibility to cultural sites is much broader than is commonly imagined. In an era of increased longevity, we need to develop new forms of hospitality: the beauty of places, which contributes so much to people’s wellbeing, requires concrete actions. Families and younger generations have different ways of perceiving the appeal of places of art and visiting them: offering a positive experience that can be shared with others is an important aspect of inclusion.»

The Labyrinth will be open to visitors from mid-July, as indicated on the website visitcini.com, with adjusted opening hours designed to welcome all visitors.

In autumn, PwC Italy will also offer the public a free opening weekend of the Borges Labyrinth, giving everyone the opportunity to experience an immersive journey through the greenery of the Island of San Giorgio. Details and booking arrangements will be announced through the official channels of the Giorgio Cini Foundation and PwC Italy.