Italy's Sunless Town: Discover Viganella's Ingenious Solution to No Sunlight

Tucked away in the Italian Alps, Viganella, a picturesque village in the Piedmont region, faced a unique challenge. For nearly Four Centuries the town was shrouded in darkness. This prolonged period of darkness had a significant impact on the daily lives of the residents, affecting everything from their mood to their overall well-being, as the surrounding mountains blocked direct sunlight

400-Year Of  Darkness 

A Giant Mirror: Viganella's 400-Year Shadow Lifted 

For 400-Year, Viganella's residents endured 3 months of darkness each year, until 2006, when a brilliant solution illuminated their lives forever. They installed a giant mirror, measuring 40 square meters, on the mountainside opposite the town. This mirror, aptly named "Mirror of the Sun" or "Specchio del Sole" in Italian, is controlled by a computerized system that tracks the movement of the sun

Viganella's Main Square 

  How it Works

Specchio del Sole in Italian, is controlled by a computerized system

Throughout the day, the mirror adjusts its position to reflect sunlight onto the main square of Viganella. This ingenious solution effectively brings sunlight to the town during the winter months, allowing residents to enjoy natural light and warmth even when the sun is below the horizon. The mirror's impact is not limited to the physical benefits of sunlight; it has also boosted the town's morale and attracted tourists curious to witness this innovative solution

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