52 tunnels dug into the rocks of Monte Pasubio during the First World War: a unique route to try at least once in a lifetime. Here's how to get around during the walk.
A low cost day.
If like me you love taking long walks in the mountains, you can't get lost the path of the great army, also called 52 galleries.
The origins of the 52 Galleries
50 km from Vicenza, in the Pasubio Valley at the foot of the Xomo Pass, a difficult walk begins, with an altitude difference of 800mt, for a duration of 3-4 hours.
This route, as the name suggests, is made up of 52 tunnels dug into the rocks of Monte Pasubio during the First World War.
This military mule track was used as a refuge for communication and the passage of supplies for the first line of combat: a place notably hidden and sheltered from possible combat attacks.
All along the way you can understand the enormity of this incredible feat. The slope in some sections is well marked and above all the walkway space is certainly not well accessible given the reduced depth. And it is by analyzing these details that you reflect on the difficulty of creating this heritage, by hand and without high technologies.
How to move along the route
To start the walk we parked the car in the very convenient Bocchetta Campiglia car park, which is located right at the foot of the path: for a cost of 6 euros per day. Next to the parking lot there is a gigantic monument that indicates its departure.
A few meters later you find the first of the tunnels, and even if we are still at a relatively low altitude it is like a window on the green and uncontaminated valley.
Fortunately, the mountain faces south so as to have the warm presence of the Sun for the entire duration of the climb. The first tunnels follow one another at a close distance. While between the central ones the distance is greater and you can admire the ravines and the rocks below the path that give a fairly adrenaline thrill. From the thirtieth gallery, stalactites of disturbing dimensions appear inside, the stony floor becomes quite slippery and the temperature drops.
I confess that the period was not among the most recommended and we even found snowy areas at knee height on the way.
Arrived at the top, in the warmer seasons, you can stop at Papa Refuge.
We ate two sandwiches prepared at home in the morning, enraptured by the immense landscape that presents itself to our eyes.
Whether you go during periods when the days are long or not, the advice is not to waste too much time at the top to relax, as the return is not short. The recommended route is a driveway that starts from the opposite side of the refuge with respect to the arrival of the 52 tunnels: it is 10km long and is cut perpendicularly by a faster path which, obviously without snow, is very easy to follow.
The 52 Galleries: other tips
I would like to conclude by recommending mountain walking enthusiasts to carry out this activity. The landscape and the silent atmosphere offer a unique experience of its kind. A story or photography cannot be enough to fully describe this emotion. Equip yourself with a head torch, some tunnels are dark, very comfortable shoes and techniques and mark in the diary that from March you will have to undertake this wonderful adventure. I am sure that the effort of the company will be rewarded by the emotions it will transmit to you.
