The Road of the 52 Tunnels on Monte Pasubio

Everyone knows the Tre Cime or the Alpe di Siusi, but few know that an hour from the Veneto cities hides one of the most ingenious mountain roads in Europe. The Road of the 52 Tunnels was carved by Italian soldiers during the First World War to supply the summit positions under cover from Austrian fire. Today it's a footpath, but it remains a work that leaves you speechless: helical tunnels that spiral inside the mountain, windows opening onto the void, hairpin bends hewn from the living rock. Being in the Vicenza area and not in the tourist heart of Alto Adige, it escapes the big flows: here you'll find no cable cars or showcase villages, only rock and silence.

The climb and the tunnels

The starting point is the Passo Xomo, above Posina, where you leave the car and take path number 366. The climb is steady but on the regular surface of a mule track, designed for mules and therefore never brutally exposed. The tunnels are numbered progressively: you begin with short stretches, then come the most famous ones, like the tunnel that spirals up inside a rock tower, a true masterpiece of military engineering. From the windows cut into the wall, your gaze sweeps over the Piccole Dolomiti and the Val Leogra. You thus reach the Porte del Pasubio, where the Rifugio Achille Papa stands, a natural resting point with views over the summit plateau and the places of the war.

From here, those wanting to close a loop don't return via the tunnels but descend along the Strada degli Scarubbi, a wider and less spectacular but convenient route that leads back toward the starting point. This lets you walk the 52 Tunnels uphill only, where they're best savoured, and avoids the traffic of those doing them in both directions. Bear in mind that many tunnels are dark and have uneven floors: a headlamp is not optional, it's a necessity.

How to get there

To get there you reach the area of Schio and the Valli del Pasubio by car, from which a mountain road leads to the Passo Xomo and the nearby Pian delle Fugazze. There is no convenient public transport up to the start, so the car remains the most practical solution; the car park at Xomo fills up quickly on high-season weekends, so it's best to arrive in the morning. At altitude there are no continuous water sources or refreshment points until the refuge, so it's wise to set off already stocked up.

When to go

The best period runs from June to October, when the tunnels are free of snow and ice. September and October in particular are the golden months for those seeking tranquillity: the school groups and summer parties have gone, the air is clear, the beech woods on the way back light up with colour, and the days stay long enough. In mid-August, on the other hand, even a secluded place like this sees its small crowd on weekends; going in the low season or on weekdays completely changes the experience. Absolutely avoid rainy days or those right after: inside the tunnels water drips and the floor becomes slippery, and the cold of the rock is felt.

A walk to take slowly

A practical tip: don't experience this route as a mere scenic hike. Carry with you an awareness of what it means to walk where thousands of soldiers laboured and fought. Allow yourself a long stop at the Porte del Pasubio, perhaps extending toward the Dente Italiano or along the paths of the Zona Sacra, where trenches and memorial stones tell the story of mountain warfare better than any museum. Set off early, dress in layers because at altitude the air is cool even in summer, and honestly calculate your timing: the elevation gain is demanding and there's nothing worse than chasing the sunset on a trail you don't know. The Road of the 52 Tunnels rewards those who approach it with slowness and respect, not those who rush through it.

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