Mount Zugna and the Great War: An Open-Air Museum of Trenches and Remembrance
Mount Zugna is not only an extraordinary natural destination, but also a place where history has left deep wounds and indelible marks. During World War I, this massif stood directly on the front line, turning into a formidable strategic bastion fiercely contested between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy.
Today, walking along the trails surrounding Rifugio Monte Zugna feels like traveling back in time through an open-air museum that invites reflection and remembrance.
A Contested Stronghold: The Front Line
Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in 1915, Italian troops occupied Mount Zugna, fortifying it to block the Austrian advance toward the Vallagarina valley and the Po Plain. In May 1916, during the famous Strafexpedition (the Austrian Spring Offensive), the mountain became the stage for dramatic and fierce clashes.
It was right here, just a short walk from the current hut, that the Austro-Hungarian advance was definitively halted in one of the most crucial battles of the mountain front. From that moment until the end of the conflict in 1918, the mountain remained an impregnable fortress laced with miles of trenches, tunnels, and barracks.
Historical Itineraries to Discover from the Hut
- The “Trincerone” (The Big Trench): Located about a 30-minute walk from the refuge, this is the iconic symbol of Italian resistance. Here you can still see the remains of stone and concrete fortified lines where the fate of the front line was decided.
- The Cemetery of San Giorgio: A place of deep peace and respect, where soldiers who fell during the harsh battles on the mountain once rested.
- The Sassoni Mining Tunnel (Galleria del Sassoni): A military engineering feat carved entirely into the rock, bearing witness to the extreme conditions under which soldiers lived and fought.
- The Summit of Mount Zugna (1,864 m): Continuing along the main path brings you to the summit, where you will find the remains of barracks, observation posts, and artillery positions—alongside a breathtaking view stretching from the Little Dolomites to the Asiago Plateau.
The refuge is the ideal starting point for exploring Mount Zugna’s most significant historical sites, all easily accessible on foot with hikes suitable for both trekkers and families:
The Peace and Remembrance Park
Today, Mount Zugna is part of the Peace Park network (Parco della Memoria), a major restoration project dedicated to preserving historical sites in collaboration with the Italian War History Museum in Rovereto (Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra). The trails have been cleared and equipped with information boards detailing the daily lives of soldiers, their letters, their hardships, and impressive logistical works (such as the massive water cisterns built to supply troops at high altitude).
What were once places of death and destruction are now paths of peace, where the quiet of nature has replaced the roar of cannons.
A Day of History, Nature, and Great Food
We invite you to spend a special day on Mount Zugna: spend the morning exploring the trenches and the Trincerone, retracing the footsteps of the past. Upon your return, we look forward to welcoming you to the refuge with warm hospitality, a hearty plate of traditional Trentino food, and a glass of wine to refresh your body and spirit after immersing yourself in history.
