Wing Maze, Wing, United Kingdom - SpottingHistory.com

One of eight remaining historic turf labyrinths in England, the Wing maze was probably built by medieval monks for religious purposes.

Labyrinth

Address

Glaston Road 5, Wing, United Kingdom

See all sites in Wing

Details

Founded: Medieval
Category:

More Information

www.discover-rutland.co.uk
en.wikipedia.org
www.worldwidewriter.co.uk

Rating

3.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Geddington Cross (19,8 km)

User Reviews

Keith Watts (3 years ago)
Blink and you miss it. Read the information board for some interesting facts and history.

Sian Jones (3 years ago)
One of only 8 historic turf mazes in England. If you're expecting Hampton Court Maze, you'll be disappointed; turf mazes are modest in size but of great historic interest. This one is medieval and resembles one at Chartres cathedral (though probably not a direct copy). Unfortunately it's fenced off so it's not clear if walking round it is allowed. NOT appropriate for a day out, just a view on the way to somewhere else . There's a good modern one not that far away at Lyvedon New Bield (NT) created by mowing on top of the lost original, which you can walk, and other activities plus a tea room.

Simon Danton (3 years ago)
Not exactly a maze

Alexis Grimshaw (4 years ago)
A well kept small local attraction with loads of history. Don't expect to make a full day of it.

David Naudusevics (4 years ago)
Interesting place for a quick historic visit

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright CONTROTONO

Historic Site of the week

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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Wing Maze