The third edition of the Lake Como Walking Festival, dedicated to the narration of walking landscapes through the Creative Walks format, continues with a “sold out” run. The first five stages recorded 120 participants on average for each and the sixth is scheduled for Sunday 28 April in Blevio. This year the chosen theme is “The beautiful country. The stones tell”to celebrate important anniversaries relating to two great sons of the Lario: the bicentenary of the birth of Antonio Stoppanigeologist and author of “Il Bel Paese” (1876), a popular volume on natural sciences and landscape beauties that contributed to uniting Italy culturally, and the two thousandth anniversary of that of Pliny the Elderwho dedicated the last two books of humanity’s first encyclopedia, the “Naturalis Historia”, to stones.
The festival is conceived and organized by the Sentiero dei Sogni association with a network of over twenty public and private partners coordinated by the Alessandro Volta Foundation and enjoys the patronage of the National Committee for the Plinian Bimillenary. This Sunday’s walk is supported by the Municipality of Blevio and sees the collaboration of the Environmental Protection, the Pro Loco and the Lago Arte Borgo collective.
THE PROGRAM EXPLAINED BY THE ORGANIZERS
Meeting at 2.30 pm on Sunday 28 April 2024 at the Town Hall of Blevio, in via Caronti 54. A circular route of approximately 4.5 km on cobblestones, dirt road and path, with a difference in altitude of approximately 300 metres, will take us through five hamlets of Blevio (Sorto, Mezzovico, Meggianico, Cazzanore and Sopravilla) walking for a stretch along the Strada Regia. Then we will climb along mule tracks and paths to the Blevio mountains where the Sasso del Lupo, one of the most legendary erratic boulders of the Lariano Triangle, and the chapel of the Madonna del Rosario are located.
The walk will end in the small square of Berin in the locality of Sopravilla, where with Antonella Fontana, creator of the PapiJoux brand of paper, crystal and semi-precious stone jewellery, we will delve into the Plinian treatment dedicated to precious stones in book XXXVII of the “Naturalis Historia” and where they will be some works on the subject of Blevian artists from the LAB (Lago Arte Borgo) collective are on display. Refreshments provided by the Pro Loco of Blevio. The route is not suitable for people who are not used to walking in the mountains and uphill.
THE INTERVENTIONS
Greetings from the deputy mayor of Blevio Luca Monti and the councilor for culture Silvia Cappi Host/narrator Pietro, journalist, writer and president of Sentiero dei Sogni
Speeches by Tiziana Tettamanti, curator of the Mosaic Park of Blevio, and Antonella Fontana on some precious stones cited by Pliny the Elder in the “Naturalis Historia”
There will be readings, by Ramona Rossi, of a rare early poem by Alessandro Manzoni composed in Blevio and set at Castel Baradello and some passages from the works of Antonio Stoppani and Pliny the Elder
Testimonies from Mauro Cappi, responsible for Environmental Protection of Blevio, and other Blevians
PARTICIPATION
Participation is free, upon registration at the link http://bleviomanzoni.eventbrite.it In case of “sold out” interested parties are advised to monitor the link because it is always possible that there will be some cancellations close to the event. Sentiero dei Sogni members are covered by an insurance policy, non-members will be asked to sign a liability release before the event. It is always possible to participate in a trial walk without being associated
Nineteen more walks will follow until October. Registration for some of the next courses is already open, using the link indicated next to the event dates.
May 12th – Tremezzina loc. Mezzegra, “The stones tell… merchants, witches and divinities” (Municipality of Tremezzina) Info and registration: https://mezzegra.eventbrite.it
May 19th – Pellio Intelvi, “Words of stone and light – In the footsteps of Maria Corti” (Fondazione Alessandro Volta, in collaboration with Festival della Luce) Info and registration: https://cortipellio.eventbrite.it
June 2 – Lezzeno, “The stone works” (Municipality of Lezzeno)
June 9th – Erba loc. Buccinigo and Parravicino “The tower, the castle and the cave: a journey to the origins of Brianza” (Municipality of Erba)
June 16th – Mandello, “On the trail of Barbarossa between history, legends and faith” (Province of Lecco)
June 30th – Brienno, “Brienno, a thousand-year-old labyrinth of water and stones” (Municipality of Brienno)
July 7 – Pusiano, “The Cypress Island from the stilts to the Grand Tour” (Municipality of Pusiano)
September 1st – Cernobbio locality. Piazzola, “Piazzola, a fairytale village” (Municipality of Cernobbio)
September 8 – Esino Lario, “The stones tell… when the lake was sea” (Province of Lecco)
September 15th – Torno-Montepiatto-Piazzaga, “The stones tell… history and legends” (Municipality of Torno)
21 September – Veleso, “From stone to book, a village to read” – (Municipality of Veleso)
September 28th – Monte Barro Park, “On a journey between faith and science with Pliny and Stoppani” (Monte Barro Park)
October 5 – Dervio locality Corenno Plinio, “The scales of time, from Pliny to the Middle Ages” – (Province of Lecco)
October 13th – Como, “In pursuit of the green stone of Como (and other legendary boulders)” – (Municipality of Como)
October 20th – Brunate – “The stones tell… a town of saints, poets and scientists” (Municipality of Brunate)
