Italy: Viganella is a small village in Italy located right at the bottom of a deep valley. It is surrounded by high mountains on all sides. The village is located 130km down the hills.
This means that naturally, every year from mid-November to early February, the region has absolutely no sunlight. The hills hide the sun following which there is absolutely no sunlight in the village for over four months in the winter.
As astounding it might sound, but it is true. The villagers once used to shiver in the bone-chilling cold for four months.
However, the brilliance of Giacomo Bonzani, an architect and sundial designer, the village is now able to get sunlight with the help of a giant mirror that reflects sunlight into the town square.
A place that had not seen the sun’s rays during the winter since the beginning of time, has now suddenly bathed in its glorious light and warmth.
The mirror is 40 square meters in size, 8 meters wide by 5 meters high and is located about 870 meters above the village. What’s more, it is actually controlled by a computer software that tracks the sun and tilts and turns the panels of the mirror so that the rays are always reflected downwards. It has actually become a tourist attraction of sorts, since its installation over 5 years ago.
According to Bonzani, who first came up with the idea of reflecting sunlight on to the square, no one believed it was possible at first. “But I was certain. I have faith in physics,” he says. The actual designing of the mirror was done by Emilio Barlocco, an engineer.
According to the Mayor of the village, Pierfranco Midali, it wasn’t easy getting the mirror ready. “We had to find the proper material, learn about the technology and especially find the money.” The entire project cost about 100,000 Euros. I think it’s truly wonderful when technology is used in such innovative ways to make people’s lives better.
Agencies
