Navigating Los Angeles often can feel as if you're in a labyrinth of the mind-numbing sort. But the actual labyrinth behind a Beaux Arts palace on West Adams Boulevard's mansion row is the kind that helps to quiet the surrounding chaos. Follow the stone-carved path to the center and out again, and you'll have the rare opportunity to travel quietly into your head — and to reach your destination without the distraction of calculating a left on red or the aggravation of a laggard who won't let you merge. The entire compound, known as Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens and maintained by the nonprofit Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, is a magical and mysterious place to spend the afternoon. Reservations and a brief tour are required, but entry is free — and a blissful, uncrowded setting is guaranteed. The lush, cascading gardens and the home's architecture bring to mind a Tuscan villa, which is fitting: The 100-year-old home was commissioned by an Italian immigrant who built California's largest winery.

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