Varese, land of experiences

The path of silence

The hike follows a route of approximately 4 km and can be completed in about 2 hours on the outward journey and 1 hour and 44 minutes on the return. The walk is marked by several commemorative stops: along the trail there are totems bearing the symbol of the Path of Silence, some of which feature a QR code that, when scanned with a smartphone, allows visitors to listen to real-life accounts of people fleeing across these places. In particular, the escape of Liliana Segre and her family is recalled, in their futile attempt to avoid deportation, making the experience deeply immersive, suspended between nature and historical memory.

The starting point is at Via Roma 2 in Viggiù, within the park of the former Albergo Viggiù. From here, the route initially heads east for about 200 meters, then turns left onto Via Borromeo. After another 200 meters heading north, turn right onto Via Martino Longhi and follow it for about 50 meters, then take, on the left, a cobblestone staircase that climbs for roughly 50 meters. At the top of the staircase, turn left onto Via ai Ronchi, continue for a few meters, and then turn right to begin a short ascent. After about 30 meters heading north, take a cobblestone alley on the right that climbs for approximately 100 meters. At the end of this ascent, cross Via Schieppati and continue straight onto a staircase that leads into the woods. From this point onward, it is sufficient to follow the signage of the Path of Silence. After tackling a steeper section of the trail, the route reaches the Poncione di Arzo and then Monte Pravello, where a plaque and a sculpture accompany visitors, commemorating the tragic events of the last century alongside the magnificent panoramas that open onto the surrounding landscape.