On Saturday 30 September at 14.30, there will be the third and final appointment of the cultural paths (in Italian only) organized by the Sentiero dei Sogni association. The initiative is part of the project called Sulle orme dei Plinii, promoted by the Province of Lecco and Villa Monastero, with the patronage of the Comitato nazionale per le celebrazioni del Bimillenario di Plinio il Vecchio and the Municipality of Varenna.
The path will start from Villa Monastero to reach the Vezio Castle following the footsteps of Queen Teodolinda and important authors. The authors narrated the involvement of Varenna in the ten-year war between Como and Milan (1118-1127), and the re-foundation of Varenna by the exiles from the Comacina island in 1169.
The initiative is part of the important project Valorizzazione dell’identità del giardino storico di Villa Monastero, financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
THE PATH
The event will start at 14.30 at Villa Monastero. The meeting point will be in the space after the ticket office. The path will be about 2,5 km and will end around 17.45 at Vezio Castle.
About 750 meters will be on a mule track with an altitude difference of 158 meters; the path is suitable for those who have no problems facing climbs and descents. Comfortable shoes are recommended (trekking shoes).
“Fra quelle rocce furono costretti a fondare la colonia di Varenna gli abitanti di Isola Comacina, disonorati dal tradimento perpetrato verso i Comaschi: essi portarono con sé anche le tradizioni religiose, se è vero che sono i soli, in quel tratto di lago, a non seguire il rito ambrosiano. E i coloni, in quella nuova sede, edificarono due rocche: l’una a destra, vicino al Lario, l’altra sulla sommità di un monte, sopra l’abitato, e capace di offrire un punto di osservazione su tutto il lago [….] Le rocce di Varenna, piegando verso sud, disegnano una morbida curvatura, e dischiudono alla vista un meraviglioso golfo, nel quale si trova un convento di monache…”(Paolo Giovio, “La descrizione del Lario”, 1537).
The path will begin with this quote, which is considered the first cultural and tourist guide of the Lario. It was written by Paolo Giovio, whose family was one of the many families forced to leave the Comacina island and move to Varenna in 1169. The path will also pass by the parish church of San Giorgio.
The itinerary will be accompanied by readings by authors of the time, such as Paolo Diacono (VIII century), author of “Storia dei Longobardi” and of the poem “In lode del lago Lario”, and Anonimo Cumano (XII century) who wrote “La Guerra dei milanesi contro Como (1118-1127)”.
Pietro Berra, journalist, and writer will lead the way. The readings will be by Lorena Mantovalli.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Registration is required: varennamille.eventbrite.it.
The initiative is in Italian only.
The creative path is free, but it is necessary to buy the reduced entrance fee to the botanical Garden of Villa Monastero (7 euros – 5 euros for kids from 15-25 years – free up to 14 years and who has abbonamento musei Lombardia). The ticket allows only to visit the botanical Garden. Those who would like to also visit the House Museum, must pay an additional 2 euros. Reduced ticket (3 euros) to visit the Vezio Castle, to be paid directly to the Sentiero dei Sogni association on the day of the visit.
