A hundred years after the Great War, we retrace the paths that witnessed the battles of the First World War.
The unspoiled nature of the Lagorai Range reveals important and precious traces of history. A century after the outbreak of the First World War, it is possible to embark on a journey through time and space, reliving the harsh reality of mountain warfare in the places that witnessed it and that today have become its symbols, from Cauriol to Colbricon, from Cima Tognola to Cavalazza. Along the way, you will come across trenches, pathways, ammunition depots and many other remains of a tragedy that left an indelible mark on history.
Peace Trail
The Peace Trail is a tourist-hiking route of great historical significance that stretches for over 450 kilometers along trails, forest roads, trenches, and walkways connecting Stelvio to Marmolada, retracing the front line of the First World War. It can be completed by an average hiker in 28–30 days, though it is also possible to cover only a section of it. The trail includes several day variants leading to war sites of great historical value. In our area, the stage starts from the Refavaie Hut (1116 m) in the Vanoi Valley, reaching shortly the village of Caoria (828 m), home to the Museum of the War on the Lagorai and the former war cemetery. The trail then climbs through the Valsorda valley, rich in farms and pastures, up to the former Malga Tognola di Siror (1988 m, 4 h from Caoria). Nearby lies the Pian dei Cannoni. Continuing towards Malga Valcigolera (1880 m) and crossing ski slopes, the path reaches the Rifugio Colbricon (1927 m, 5.5 h from Caoria). Descending from Passo Colbricon you reach the namesake Malga and finally Paneveggio (1504 m), where the trail intersects the main Rolle Pass road (8 h from Caoria).
Great War Museum – Caoria
The “Great War”, fought between 1914 and 1918 on countless fronts, was the first conflict in human history to reach global dimensions. The renewed interest in mountain warfare has led even the small village of Caoria to create an initiative to objectively document this tragic period. The museum, founded and managed by the Caoria Alpine Group, preserves the historical memory of the war fought on the Lagorai mountains. Uniforms, weapons, equipment, personal belongings of soldiers from both sides, and relics of all kinds found in the mountains or kept for decades by locals are lovingly collected and displayed to remember this immense tragedy. A large photographic collection allows visitors to understand the extreme conditions endured by soldiers—both Italian and Austro-Hungarian—during the two long years of war fought in these harsh mountains.
Great War Museum – San Martino di Castrozza
The exhibition was created from the private collection of Edoardo Zagonel, mountain guide, ski instructor, member of the Alpine Rescue, and passionate relic hunter. Edo, always fascinated by the world wars, spent years collecting thousands of historical objects across his mountains. The exhibition brings together photos, documents, diaries, and artifacts that bear witness to key events that took place in San Martino di Castrozza and Primiero during the First World War. The display is located just a few steps from the center of San Martino di Castrozza, at the State Forestry Station on Via Laghetto.
