The Mount Brione Forts

Permanence: 2.15 h

In 1852, the General Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Empire started building forts to guard the northern coast of Lake Garda, calling it the Festung Abschnitt i.e. the fortified sector of Riva del Garda. Mount Brione stands at the centre of this network of forts. In 1860-1862 Fort S. Nicolò was erected close to the lake, while Fort S. Alessandro was built on the mountain’s peak in 1881. Fort Batteria di Mezzo, on the mount’s ridge, was completed in 1900. The last and most modern fort is Fort Garda finished in 1907. The location also preserves the visible remains of the communication trenches, observation posts, combat trenches and military roads. The itinerary starts at Port S. Nicolò in Riva del Garda and proceeds along the Peace Path up to Forts Garda and Batteria di Mezzo. Continuing up towards the northern peak, the remains of Fort S. Alessandro are reached, from where the return path to Port S. Nicolò starts.


S.Giovanni - Cima Rocca

Permanence: 4 h.

Biacesa – S. Giovanni church –Rocca path (war tunnels) –Rocca peak or the Sperone –Bocca Pasumer–  Biacesa
During the Great War, the powerful “Alto Garda” barricade of the Austrian defence line ran from Tagliata del Ponale all the way to the Rocchetta- Cima D’Oro watershed. The climb to the Rocca peak (Cima Rocca) is one of the most interesting itineraries for pundits of field fortifications built during the war. In half a day they can visit the entire completely restored Austrian tunnel system on Sperone (Cima Rocca) and admire the breathtaking view of Lake Garda.
Starting in Biacesa, the itinerary climbs up to the Caregna junction and then turns onto the mule path posted as SAT No. 417 up to the small church of S. Giovanni. By following the Rocca path the entrance to the first tunnel is reached, and the tour then continues along the network of tunnels up to the path that leads to the peak of Sperone or Cima Rocca. From there: a) one can continue north and descend along the equipped path that ends on the western slope; b) from the peak one can return back to the entrance to the third tunnel and come out on the other side of the mountain along the trenches that join the previous route. Then one descends to Bocca Pasumer and returns to Biacesa.


Tagliata del Ponale (itinerary accessible only on specific occasions)

Permanence: 1,30 h

Tagliata del Ponale is an exceptional fortification tunnel-system consisting in a complex of corridors and trenches excavated directly above Lake Garda in a unique panoramic location in the years 1904-1918. It can be reached from Riva del Garda m 78 following the national road S.S. 45 bis to Limone up to the first junction after the Hydroelectric Plant, at which the itinerary climbs to the right along the old Valle di Ledro road. The undoubtedly most spectacular artefact of the fortification is the long flight of steps that descends from the third tunnel towards lake level. The steps end a few metres above lake level with four large apertures towards Lake Garda: two posts opening outwards for cannons and two observation posts. The rock complex is much more intricate than the strategic function requires, as it also includes arms and ammunition rooms, service areas, medication room and food storage locales.


Trat – Saval - Pernici on the Riccabona Path

Permanence: 2,45 h

During WWI, Bocca di Trat, the mountain pass connecting Valle di Ledro with the Lower Sarca area, was heavily guarded by the Austro-Hungarian army. In 1916, Captain von Riccabona was in command.
The itinerary starts at Malga Trat, a mountain dairy reached on the paved road from Val Concei. The “delle vacche” (cows’) path departs from the mountain dairy up towards Caret peak at an altitude of 1805 m a.s.l., where remarkable war trench remains, barracks and a few tunnels are still visible. Further on, after Tomeabrù, the itinerary turns back towards Bocca Saval, a very important centre during the war as it was the site of the Command headquarters of the Austrian sector, of a field hospital and the arrival point of various cableways from Campi to Malga Grassi. Along the flat path one reaches the Pernici refuge, after passing by various communication trenches and war barracks. The return to Boca di Trat is along the main road leading to the bottom of the valley.


Mount Altissimo

Permanence: a) 3h b) 2,30h

Italy joined the war in 1915 and occupied several locations in southern Trentino that at the time belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire.
On Mount Altissimo, in the Baldo range, the Austrian army drew back to safer positions in preparation of battle with the Italian forces. The first line therefore became the Malga Zures, Doss Casina and Dosso Alto area. History recalls the presence in 1915 at Doss Casina of some of the most renowned representatives of the futurist movement: Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni, Antonio Sant’Elia and Mario Sironi, as well as the violent battles over the possession of Dosso Alto in 1918.
There are two options:
a) from the town of Nago, drive to Malga Zures, where the Austro-Hungarian tunnels can be visited. From there, proceed on foot for about 45 minutes to Dosso Alto. The next segment leads to Doss Casina, from where one returns towards Malga Zures along the Peace path.
b) Drive up to Prati di Nago, continue on foot to the peak of Mount Altissimo where it is possible to view the field defences of the Italian army.


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