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Português In the ancient heart of San Donato Val di Comino, amidst the folds of time and textures of stone, lies a jewel of folk architecture and whispered history: Via Mevati. Not a simple street, but a passageway, almost a breath of the village, that defies the laws of space and invites the discovery of an intimate [...]
Imagine starting your exploration from Via Orologio, just below the imposing Clock Tower, an iconic point that has marked the life of the town for centuries. From here, Via Mevati initially opens with a reassuring width, as if to welcome the visitor discreetly. But it is only the beginning of an unexpected journey.
Like a thread unraveling between old stone houses, the street gradually begins to narrow, revealing its true nature as an almost secret path.
You will thus reach its most famous and incredible point: a passageway so thin, only 66 centimeters, that it requires careful stepping and your arms clinging to your body. It is here that Via Mevati reveals itself in all its uniqueness, a corridor designed for only one person at a time, an invitation to slow down, to feel the closeness of the centuries-old walls, almost to hear the echo of the footsteps of those who have walked it before us.
But the surprises do not end. If the entrance to the alley by descending the stairs measures a relatively "wide" 106 cm, and the exit onto Via Piave stands at 86 cm, it is one of its interior staircases that further defies the concept of space: at only 17 centimeters, it requires one to descend carefully, placing one's feet askew, in a small rite of passage that adds charm and authenticity to the experience.
Yet despite its incredible narrowness, Via Mevati is not a short, dead-end alley. It winds for a full 225 meters, with a path that after its narrowest point gently reopens, ending in Corso Giuseppe Mazzini. This unexpected length makes it a true link, a hidden vein that connects the old heart of the village with its lower part, serving as a historic and fascinating shortcut.
Its very name, "Mevati," conceals a deep meaning. According to Antonio Pellegrini's interpretation, it derives from the Latin meatus, meaning "passage" or "orifice"-an ancient term that well describes the nature of this hidden, subtle, but essential pathway to the life and history of the village.
To walk along Via Mevati is not just to cross a street; it is to take a plunge into the past, it is to listen to the stories that the stones have to tell, it is to feel the breath of San Donato tighten and then expand again. It is an experience not to be missed for those who visit our village and wish to discover each of its most authentic and hidden corners.
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