Strada delle 52 Gallerie from Rifugio Col Del Xomo to Bocchetta di Campiglia

I think it's a must for every Italian and everyone else should see it. In addition to the history, there are also fantastic views of the surrounding gorges. After walking through the 52 galleries, the longest of which is 430 meters long, you come to the Refugio Gen. A. Papa. There are enough places to sit, both for food and drinks you've brought with you and for those you've bought there. The path to the car consists of wide paths, which are also used to bring food to the Refugio and the surrounding farms. You can make the climb a little more pleasant by walking over the 8 small Sentioros instead of taking the large Tornantes. The small paths are single trails and should be walked with care. The parking fee is currently 6.00 euros for a whole day.

Finally we returned to this magnificent path. The first time I was 8 years old and with my grandfather Gaetano we climbed up to n°21, without a flashlight, holding hands and feeling the walls to find the exit. Grandma Lucia was waiting for us in the car, with a lot of apprehension. But with my grandfather every day was always special.

Today my husband and I went this tour, it was fantastically beautiful but we had to find out that the descriptions from other sites are not necessarily true. On the one hand, the times given are not correct and that it is medium difficult is also not true in our eyes. The ascent in the tunnels is sometimes very steep and slippery. It is definitely a great tour exhausting but I think the pictures say more than a thousand words. The elapsed time was 6 hours, the recorded time is incorrect because the GPS does not work in the tunnels.

So let's start by saying that at least the road to get there is paved but very narrow, there are several paid parking lots €6 for 24 hours but if you don't arrive in a hurry in the morning it's a delirium to find a place. The first section that leads to the refuge is really tiring, 5km of interminable climb, you have to be careful because inside the tunnels the rocks are wet and slippery (you really need a torch) some are in total darkness. The refuge is well equipped if you want to stop and eat. For the rest, however, the 10km return is almost a walk.

Be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp. There are further branches within the tunnels that can be explored. Several tunnels are over 300 meters long (Tunnel 19) or lead upwards like a corkscrew through several levels (Tunnel 20). Unfortunately, many of the side tunnels have been littered and filled with shit by various "mountain enthusiasts." From the Achille Papa Reef, you can also explore various bunkers and passageways on Monte Palon, as well as on the Austrian and Italian plateaus. However, it shouldn't rain for this, as the tunnels would be flooded.

Today we were on a historically very interesting and tragic tour. On the Strada delle 52 Gallerie. Brief on the story in my simple words. 1915 in the Great War...as the Italians say, the Italian soldiers were positioned on the Pasubio to stop the Austrians. The Strada degli Scarubbi (our way back) was then the supply road up. But since it was easy to see despite camouflage nets, etc., war strategists came up with the idea in 1917 to build 52 tunnels through the entire mountain massif to the top. The Strada delle 52 Gallerie....Our ascent. Today, these supply tunnels have become a wonderful hiking trail. You move steadily upwards through the 52 tunnels and connecting sections with a breathtaking panorama. Some of the tunnels wind up the mountain like a corkscrew and there are always views that make hikers' hearts beat faster. I took a lot of photos. But I will only post a few of them.

The road of the 52 galleries is a military mule track built during the First World War on the Pasubio massif. Circular excursion of the 52 galleries Once you have taken the path near the Bocchetta Campiglia, the excursion necessarily follows the original route of the Strada Militare. Just over 6 km to reach the Papa Refuge. Return along the Strada degli Scarubbi.

Photo Album https://photos.app.goo.gl/NaAFgi4DvksNYzgM9