PROVINCE OF TREVISO THE GREAT WAR

Transcription

1 PROVINCE OF TREVISO THE GREAT WAR

2 PROTAGONIST IN HISTORY Centuries of historical events, endless protagonists, an unprecedented level of civilisation threatened by terrible conquerors, a culture enriched by flourishing arts and wisdom and struck by wars and restless fights, characterise the past of the enchanting Province of Treviso ( Marca Bella et Amorosa ). One of the most tragic scenarios of recent history was World War I, the first conflict of modern times, causing a burden of human sufferance and civil lacerations. The Province of Treviso was deeply hit by this event, being one of the main hotspots of WWI. All history books report about Vittorio Veneto victory and the unforgettable battles in the Mt Grappa and River Piave areas the latter lately became sacred to the country. This strip of land was a protagonist in the transition process from the old European international scenario to a new geo-political landscape, and helped establish a renewed national unity. In 1917 and 1918, the magnificent landscape flanked by Mt Grappa and River Piave saw the Italian army soldiers, supported by French and British troops, fighting against Austrian and Hungarian enemies, in a series of bloody and memorable battles. Today, a visit to these places, which behold such tragic memories, is an educational experience, a tribute to such a long-lasting sufferance and bloodshed. The divided memories of our Community must join into a single entity, without forgetting the reasons and effects of those fights, and being aware of the ethic tension needed for mutual comprehension.

3 This guide aims at accompanying visitors along a path across places which witnessed the development of such tragic events. In these places, soldiers from both sides and displaced citizens were called to co-exist with the enemy and to accept violence as a part of their daily lives, while churches, houses and entire villages were set on fire. Material damages, mostly recovered today, were only a metaphor of deeper human wounds. A journey across WWI battlefields is a tribute to the victims of sacrifice, and is an excellent opportunity for visitors to meet our community, made of people who have accepted such grief, within a popular memory able to transform the knowledge of horror and nameless terror of war into wisdom and prudence. Leonardo Muraro President Province of Treviso

4 FOREWORD Before delving into the past and going through the key moments linked to World War I, which, between 1917 and 1918, ravaged much of the Treviso region known as Marca Trevigiana, a few introductory remarks are in order to give you a more exhaustive and coherent understanding of the route we are presenting. The guide is split into three episodes of the war: the Last Peak, the Battle of the Solstice and the Final Battle. Each is representative of certain situations and dramas whose effects, nonetheless, were not limited merely to the areas marked by the routes on the maps. During the terrible year of conflict, the whole area felt the effects of the violent operations of the opposing armies, though to different extents and with varying repercussions. However, for the sake of comprehension and historical clarity, we decided it was best to underline each battle in the places most deeply scarred by the violence of the war. Another important itinerary linked to the lower Piave area is currently in the pipeline. The following sheets are numbered from 1 to 22. The number corresponds to the information totems located throughout the area at the various sites linked to the Great War. To help visitors find their way around, signs have been placed at intervals along the routes indicating the itineraries in question.

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6 PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Gra Gu WHERE IS THE PROVINCE OF TREVISO? Milan Treviso Venice Vittorio Veneto PROVINCE OF PORDENONE Bologna Asolo PROVINCE OF PADUA Valdobbiadene Castelfranco Veneto Montebelluna Conegliano Oderzo PROVINCE OF TREVISO PROVINCE OF VENICE Located in the Veneto region, in the North-East of Italy, just a few kilometres from Venice, the Province of Treviso can be easily reached by: Motorways: A27 Venice- Belluno (exit at Vittorio Veneto North and South, Conegliano, Treviso North and South, Mogliano Veneto), A4 Turin-Trieste (exit Cessalto) Airports: A. Canova (TV), M.Polo (VE) Railway lines: Venice-Udine, Venice- Belluno, Vicenza-Treviso

7 The following sheets are numbered from 1 to 22. The number corresponds to the information totems located throughout the area referring to the various sites linked to the Great War. To help visitors find their way around, signs have been placed at intervals along the routes indicating the itineraries in question.

8 THE LAST PEAK Mount Grappa, in the Marca of Treviso region s north-west, was one of the most well-known settings of World War I, and was accordingly christened the sacred mount of the fatherland. About 23 thousand soldiers died on its peaks. In the aftermath of the rout at Caporetto, faced by the Austrian enemy advance, the Italian units, decimated and broken up, offered tremendous resistance, taking up position on the hilly area known as the Montello and along the banks of the Piave in addition to the Grappa. Whilst the 4th army retreated from Cadore to draw up on the new front and prevent the enemy from encircling them, small units comprising just a few men desperately defended the first rises on the northern side of the Grappa massif with great tenacity, keeping the enemy at bay for a number of days. Reinforcements trickled in and the new Italian line of defence managed to bolster its ranks. However, the Austro- Hungarian troops, in the meantime, also had time to consolidate. The two armies fought furiously between the 10th and 26th of November 1917 and later in other bloody battles, between the 4th and 26th of December. These are the most significant moments of the historic Battaglia d Arresto, (the arresting battle), which was to mark the start of the material revival of the Italian army and, above all, boost its flagging morale. Losses on both sides were enormous, but despite this, the Italian army managed to halt the Austro- Hungarian soldiers advance on the new defensive line. To this day, the road up the mount, winding through verdant woods and stands of chestnut trees, is surrounded by countryside clearly blemished by what were once artillery posts, terracing and entrances of tunnels carved out of the rock. Some mountain stretches of the route cannot be travelled by coach, and access may not be granted during winter. The route is signposted, pointing you on a one-way journey, as indicated by the arrows on the map.

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10 FRENCH MILITARY MEMORIAL CHAPEL 1 PEDEROBBA The memorial chapel was built in memory of the Italo-French military brotherhood. The emblematic monument in front clearly represents the alliance, with the majestic personifications of France and Italy bearing a fallen French soldier on their laps. Between 1917 and 1918, the French contingent, whose contribution in the end amounted to a total of around 130,000 men, proved a decisive support for the Italian army, and significant for the outcome of the hostilities. Today, the impressive memorial chapel, resembling a surreal rock wall, is the final resting place of over 1,000 soldiers. A MUST-SEE: 1 / a Onigo di Pederobba Monument to the Italian Soldier. The monument was built in 1988, to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Great War. Eight bronze groups, set on concrete, represent various episodes of the war experience.

11 L ARTE FERITA (THE WOUNDED ART) POSSAGNO Of all the damage caused by the Great War, the collapse of the Canova plaster casts gallery (Gipsoteca) - is still one of the most upsetting memories. Today, a splendid permanent exhibition is held here, called l Arte Ferita (wounded art), to keep alive the memories of tragic moments of the Great War, when numerous bombs and artillery shells rained on Possagno. Bombardment began in November slow, inexorable and deadly accurate. One of the first shells 2 exploded in front of the façade of the Temple, which, miraculously enough, was not damaged. The gallery was less fortunate, a fact to which the exhibition s wealth of photographic documentation bears eloquent testimony. For information: Temple and Gipsoteca Tel Opening hours: every day from 9am to midday and from 3 to 6pm (summer) or from 2 to 5pm (winter). Closed on Mondays. A MUST-SEE: 2 / a Crespano del Grappa Great War Document Centre. The centre houses a valuable collection of documents on the events and history of the units that fought on Mount Grappa. For information: Town Library Tel / b Borso del Grappa General Giardino road. This military road was ordered by Lieut.- General Gaetano Giardino, commander of the Grappa Army, to connect the plain with Cima Grappa. It was intended for the transport of weapons, ammunition, men and rations when the Cadorna road was under fire from the Austro- Hungarian artillery.

12 BASSANO REFUGE 3 CIMA GRAPPA Rebuilt in 1935 and originally located on the spot now marked by the memorial chapel, the refuge affords a magnificent view, which lends itself to the reconstruction of Mount Grappa s military operations and battles. To the west, just a little lower, you can see the barracks Milano fort - now a museum - and Vittorio Emanuele III gallery, a veritable underground fortress (not yet open to visitors). The refuge currently boasts various facilities and houses an interesting display of photographic accounts of the war on the Grappa. For information: Tel Open all year.

13 ITALIAN MILITARY MEMORIAL CHAPEL 4 CIMA GRAPPA Officially opened in 1935 by the King and commissioned by the fascist regime, the memorial chapel is home to the remains of over 12,500 fallen Italians, whose burial niches are housed in the retaining walls of a structure resembling a gigantic fort, built in stone from the Grappa. One tomb that stands out from the numerous other burial places is that of Marshal General Giardino, commander of the Grappa Army, who was buried, according to his last will, amongst his young soldiers. A wing of the chapel houses the remains of over 10,000 Austroungarian soldiers, mostly unknown. The tomb of Czech soldier Peter Pan, in particular, arouses our curiosity. From the Italian memorial chapel, a wide staircase leads to the votive chapel built in honour of the Madonnina of The Grappa, and the Via Eroica (heroic way) leads, in turn, from here to the Portale di Roma, (the Rome Portal), the first monumental entrance to the chapel. A series of trenches run from the Grappa s summit and can be visited on foot. For information: Italian Military Memorial Chapel and Great War History Museum Tel Opening hours: 9am midday; pm from 1 October to 15 May; 9ammidday; pm from 16 May to 30 September Admission free.

14 VAL DELLE MURE (VALLEY) 5 MOUNT GRAPPA This valley was one of the areas to suffer the greatest devastation in You can still make out the traces of paths joining the frontline with the rear, which supplies and wounded Italians had to be sneaked along under the deadly fire of the Austro-Hungarians. The latter, moreover, stood their ground with incredible perseverance. Observing this simply delightful place today, framed by fresh meadows and small beech woods, it is hard to imagine that this is where so many men endured a tragedy of worldwide reach. A MUST-SEE: 5 / a Grappa massif. Mule track. A military mule track - a mighty piece of work produced in World War I - runs from Covolo, a small village in the Municipality of Crespano del Grappa. 5 / b Pian de la Bala Sentiero delle Meatte (path). This is a panoramic spot where the plain widens out, near the Val delle Mure valley. An evocative military track carved out of the rock starts here and runs over a series of natural spurs.

15 CABLEWAY RUINS 6 MOUNT GRAPPA In times of war, the cableways were a vital means of transport for provisions, weapons, ammunition and people. Their building was quite a technological feat given that, in 1914, cable car construction was still in its early years. An interesting and equally evocative piece of evidence is still visible on the site: the motor mechanism of a cableway, used to connect the valley below, San Liberale, with Mount Grappa.

16 TRENCHES 7 MOUNT PALON This mount was another interesting focal point during the Great War as it saw numerous Italian batteries, stationed between the Palon and Bocca di Forca, with the task of defending the entire eastern wing of the Grappa sector. Remains of huts and caves are still visible, and above all trenches: the dugout lines in the ground that seem to go on and on, excavated by the infantry, most of whom were country folk. Try to picture them protected by rather rough parapets, built with the soil that had been removed and reinforced with sandbags. In the clearing on the top of the mount stands a large wooden cross commemorating the sacrifice and valour of all the soldiers who fought here.

17 BATTLEFIELD 8 Positions MILITARY ACTION ON MOUNT TOMBA of the Italian Soldiers Positions of the Austrian-German Soldiers MOUNT TOMBA Mount Tomba is a key stage in our journey aiming to reconstruct the main events of the Great War. Admiring the scenery, keen-eyed observers will be able to make out numerous craters formed by bombs exploding and the remains of entrenchments, bearing significant testimony to that distant 1917, when the Italian troops faced the Austro-Hungarian army in a tremendous battle. Various figures have gone down in the history books, none more worthy of a place in history than the young German Lieutenant Erwin Rommel, who, in these areas, gave proof of his courage and tactical genius. Combined with out-of-the-ordinary physical resistance, these qualities allowed him to conquer the ridge of Mount Tomba in November Nonetheless, a month later the French Chasseurs des Alpes, the Italians allies, managed to take back the summit. In memory of the historic battle, a symbolic white cross now dominates the landscape.

18 STRONGHOLD 9 CORNUDA During World War I, the wartime brutalities spared practically nothing, not even sacred places such as the churches or sanctuaries. The Stronghold s church, known as the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Rocca stronghold since it was founded on the remains of a mediaeval stronghold, has been ravaged on various occasions during the course of history. During the Great War, its strategic position meant it was exploited by the Italians as a military observation post, making it a constant target for the Austro-Hungarians. From 1917 until the offensive on the Piave, it was under constant fire from the Austro- Hungarians, who made several hits in different places. For information: Cornuda stronghold (Rocca di Cornuda) Tel

19 MOSTACIN PASS 10 MASER The highest rises of the Asolo hills made ideal locations for lookouts, from which Italian troops could monitor and study the positions of the Austro-Hungarian lines arranged along the Piave, from the Fener bridge as far as Nervesa della Battaglia. Sheltered from prying eyes, the French artillery, with its extended 149 calibre cannons, also managed to fire in the direction of Mount Tomba, and the Piave district and Montello. Walking now through the Mostacin pass, we can grasp the strategic importance of this route, which was the only way of getting artillery and ammunition to the various stations.

20 THE BATTLE OF THE SOLSTICE In June 1918, Austria launched a major new offensive against Italy, especially in the Montello area, with the aim of wiping out the Italian army. The so-called Battle of the Solstice witnessed great, terrifying battles that continued without respite from the 15th to the 23rd of June 1918, with extremely heavy casualties on both sides. The battle plan prescribed a generalized attack from the plateau of the Seven Communities to the sea. In actual fact, it was mainly focussed on the Montello and on the town of Nervesa, which was virtually razed to the ground as a result. During the tragic encounter, the Italian army displayed new tactical capabilities, which, teamed with a high level of training and cohesion, were to lead to the final victory. The Austro-Hungarian offensive, which probably did not receive sufficient approval and backing even by the emperor himself, Charles I, was not particularly successful and ended without appreciable results: at this point, the decline of the great Habsburg Empire was nigh. The breakup inside the Austro-Hungarian Empire was beginning to take its toll and, even where German troops had fought tenaciously, various mutinies began to break out: whole units threw down their weapons, refusing to fight. The Battle of the Solstice marked, for the Empires of central Europe, the beginning of the total defeat that would come about in the autumn of that year: their hopes of victory slowly began to fade. The route is two-way and both directions are signposted.

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22 THE KING S LOOKOUT 11 CROCETTA DEL MONTELLO The King s lookout is well worth a visit, being one of the most important observation posts on the Montello. It was named in honour of Vittorio Emanuele III who, through its loopholes, observed the battle s progress unseen, as attested by a tablet placed on the wall. Under the farmhouse that now stands here, a perfectly preserved narrow concrete underground passage leads to what must have been the best position for keeping track of all the action on the battlefields. The site is reached easily enough by taking a pleasant grassy road on a slight uphill gradient, which leads to an area of grassland, dominated by a commanding Roman column. The lookout is on the right and is always open to the public. A MUST-SEE: 11/ a Montebelluna Military Fountain. It was used as a watering place for troops and the trains that supplied the front during the Battle of the Solstice (15-23 June).

23 ABBEY OF SANT EUSTACHIO NERVESA DELLA BATTAGLIA The silence and a little imagination are often sufficient to help emotionally involved visitors reconstruct the tragic events of the Great War. Nonetheless, some sites still feature evident signs of that period in history, which are liable to arouse emotions. Hence the beauty of the masonry skeleton stripped of its flesh, sticking up through the vegetation, makes the ruins of the Abbey of Sant Eustachio a sensational attraction. Its position of strategic importance was responsible for its 12 becoming an observation post and, ultimately, for its downfall. It was reduced to rubble by the German artillery as well as by Italian weapons. Go through the iron gate and up to the top to discover what was once an admirable example of Romanesque- Benedictine architecture (12th-13th centuries). For information: Town Library Tel

24 BRITISH CEMETERY 13 GIAVERA DEL MONTELLO Positioned on an area of land donated by the Italian people, set amongst enchanting scenery encircled by vineyards, the British Military Cemetery recalls the typical structure of British graveyards, a place where the perfectly aligned white stakes induce meditation. Each gravestone is marked by a name or a coat of arms, though visitors are inevitably moved above all by the words dictated by the affection of their relations. The British, with their XIV Army Corps, made up of the 23rd and 41st Divisions, joined ranks with the Italians on the 4th of December 1917, drawing up on the Montello front and making a decisive contribution to the resistance and Italian victory on this front. A MUST-SEE: 13/ a Giavera del Montello Gen. Pennella memorial stone. The Monument, consisting in blocks surmounted by the bust of General Pennella, pays homage to the commander of the 8th Army and defender of the Montello during the Battle of the Solstice.

25 FRANCESCO BARACCA VOTIVE CHAPEL 14 NERVESA DELLA BATTAGLIA On the south-facing slope of the Montello, a funeral niche, enclosed by a curtain of cypress trees, marks the site where the aircraft piloted by heroic Cavalry Major Francesco Baracca was shot down. In the afternoon of the 19th of June 1918, whilst carrying out a daring low-level machinegunning operation to support the Italian infantry, during the final stage of the Battle of the Solstice, the aircraft was crippled by enemy antiaircraft fire. The flying ace of what was to become the Italian Air Force is now unanimously acknowledged as the champion of the Italian World War I fighter pilots.

26 MONTELLO MILITARY MEMORIAL CHAPEL NERVESA DELLA BATTAGLIA The Italian Military Memorial Chapel, with its gigantic tower open to the sky, dominates the whole north-east side of the Montello. Inspired by the works of Roman architecture, with a square plan, it is symmetrical on all four sides. The lookout at the front overlooks what was once the tragic theatre of the Battle of the Solstice. The building s interior, which now houses the remains of over 9,000 soldiers, features a structure dominated by monumentality and commanding respect. 15 For information: Montello Military Memorial Chapel Tel Opening hours: 9am-5pm from 1 May to 30 September; 9am-6pm from 1 October to 30 April Admission free. A MUST-SEE: 15/ a S. Croce di Nervesa della Battaglia Monument to the Boys of 99. The monument, commissioned by the Ragazzi del 99 Class of 1899 association, is a reminder of Italy s maternal love for its son in the army.

27 PONTOON BRIDGE 16 NERVESA DELLA BATTAGLIA This historic pontoon bridge stands today as a valuable and indeed significant testimony, helping us understand how bridges during the war years were structured and supported. The urgent need to build practical walkways over the River Piave, and also the knowledge that they were precarious, being under constant attack, called for quick solutions that could be implemented in a hurry. In this specific case, the pontoon was initially used by the Pontonier Corps to carry men and materials, whilst it was later adapted - with appropriate anchorage - as a support for the installation of a bridge meant for use by military personnel only. A MUST-SEE: 16/ a Nervesa della Battaglia Monument to the Artillerymen. A cannon stands on a pedestal, a commemorative message at its base in memory of the artillerymen fallen during the war.

28 THE FINAL BATTLE On the 24th of October 1918, exactly a year after the defeat at Caporetto, the general Italian offensive began against the Austro- Hungarian army, and was to go on until the 31st of October, becoming known as the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The Italian troops were engaged in a fierce attack along the entire length of the front, especially on the Grappa. The soldiers belonging to the Grappa Army, serving under Marshall Giuseppe Giardino, met the Austro-Hungarians in what were to be the last, decisive battles. A strategic move drew the enemy troops reserves onto the massif to clear the way for the Italian advance on the plains. Nonetheless, endless soldiers made the ultimate, painful sacrifice. It wasn t until the evening of the 30th of October 1918 that the artillery fire over the Grappa finally fell silent. On the 27th and 28th of October, several Italian and French units, after the encounters on the Tomba and the Monfenera, moved back up the Piave valley from Pederobba, liberating the Alano basin. The Italian troops marched forward on the right and left banks of the River Piave simultaneously. The evening of the 28th of October, they entered Valdobbiadene, thence liberating various villages until, on the 31st of October 1918, the Battle of Vittorio Veneto ended in victory. The victory, which put an end to the war, cost Italy no less than 500,000 lives, with a further 100,000 prisoners never making it back from the prison camps. Some mountain stretches of the route cannot be travelled by coach, and access may not be granted during winter. The route is signposted, pointing you on a one-way journey, as indicated by the arrows on the map.

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30 ISLAND OF THE DEAD MORIAGO DELLA BATTAGLIA The Isola dei Morti, or Island of the Dead, is the main site commemorating the Arditi shock troops, or bold ones, who, in October 1918, managed to break through the Austrian lines along the Piave. The place, whose name clearly recalls the vast number of bodies found here, is nowadays also known as the Green Island because of the lush vegetation of its grounds. Following a cool, tree-lined avenue, the view opens up into the main square named Ragazzi del 99 (boys 17 of 99), which is home to the greatest number of commemorative monuments. Particularly worthy of note are: the Pyramid and Madonnina del Piave Votive Temple, which recall the sacrifice of the soldiers who lost their lives on the Piave.

31 A MUST-SEE: 17/a - 17/b 17/c - 17/d 17/a 17/b Colfosco 17/c Colfosco 17/d Fontigo di Sernaglia della Battaglia Great War Museum. The museum features some interesting documents on the Great War, especially with reference to the Piave area. One exhibit arousing particular curiosity is the simulated trench. Cannon cave. On the Piave s left bank, at Mina, there is a cave containing a statue of the Madonna. During the Battle of the Solstice, an Austrian cannon was placed here, positioned in such a way that it could be fired without being hit. Ruio di Villa Jacur. Near Villa Jacur, close to the left bank of the Piave, a bridge was thrown across the river. It was over this bridge that the 13th Austrian Schutzen Division passed during the Austro-Hungarian offensive in June Falzè di Piave Monument to the Piave Caymans. An evocative bronze group that portrays three life-size members of the Arditi in an attacking stance, armed with dagger, hand grenades and 91 musket, in memory of an episode that took place on the 27th of November 1918, which earned them the nickname Piave Caymans.

32 SANTA BONA ABBEY 18 VIDOR The Benedictine abbey was founded in the early 12th century to house the remains of Saint Bona. A wall surrounds the whole abbey complex, comprising the church, cloister, dwellings and large garden. The site was one of the places shelled during the Great War, when the whole Piave district area was beaten by the Italian artillery. The stone bridge at Vidor was mined to cover the Italian troops retreat, just after the defeat at Caporetto, and the whole town, soon after garrisoned by the German troops, was consequently ravaged. Many valuable buildings were compromised. The site can only be visited on the outside.

33 A MUST-SEE: 18/a - 18/b 18/c - 18/d 18/e 18/a Valdobbiadene Combai 18/c Bombarded centre. The centre of Valdobbiadene was tragically devastated by the Italian artillery during the Great War: rebuilt after the war, its original appearance has been restored and it is known for the extremely famous Prosecco wine. Strada de la Fam (starvation road). So called because children, women and old men, called to build the roads, received a voucher for a plate of soup in exchange for their hard day s labours. One of the main starvation roads started on the outskirts of the town of Combai. Today, to be able to see the remaining cobbles, you need to walk part of the way. 18/b Follina 18/d Follina 18/e Abbey. During the year of occupation, a shell crashed through the roof, causing the eastern side of the church to collapse. The refectory, dating from the 8th century, was destroyed for wood and, in the period following the war, was transformed into an Oratory-cum-War Memorial. Austro-Hungarian Cemetery. Located behind the civilian cemetery, it became the final resting place of about 900 soldiers, 491 known. An international camp is now being planned to get young people (Italians, Austrians, Germans, Danes, Czechs) involved in restoring at least part of the cemetery area. Cison di Valmarino Castle. During the war, it was set up as an Austrian military headquarters. It has recently been renovated and is connected with the historic village of Cison.

34 100-DAY ROAD TOVENA This route, which connected the piedmont area of the Treviso region with Val Belluna, was popularly referred to as the 100-Day Road because the Austrian Engineer Corps built it between the 1st of February and the 1st of June 1918 (as attested by the carved inscription at the 4th hairpin bend), in time to carry the troops and large calibre artillery during the Battle of the Solstice. Apart from its immense strategic importance - since it provided a quick and safe link between the Grappa and the Piave fronts - it was an extremely bold undertaking from an engineering point of view. It is interesting, today, to stop at certain points along the route to spy the characteristic layout of the tunnels, almost stacked on top of each other at the five hairpin bends, set in the sheer walls.

35 BATTLE MUSEUM VITTORIO VENETO The Palazzo della Comunità di Ceneda, a simple, harmonious piece of architecture based on clean, essential lines, following the sign of Sansovino (16th century), has housed the Battle Museum since Established in memory of the Great War, and above all to commemorate the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, it contains a great amount of wartime material, including weapons, relics, topographic maps, models and photographs belonging to a rich collection donated by Luigi Marson, former grenadier and inhabitant of this town. Visiting the 21 museum, you feel like you are being plunged into the past. A window is opened, above all, onto the Final Battle when, on the 24th of October 1918, the general Italian offensive was launched against the Austro-Hungarian army. On the 31st of October of that same year, the VIII Army Corps was to liberate Vittorio Veneto and, just a few days later, the armistice would be signed. For information: Museo della Battaglia Battle museum Tel Opening hours: 10am-12.30pm and pm (summer); 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5pm (winter). Closed on Mondays.

36 SAN SALVATORE CASTLE 22 SUSEGANA The San Salvatore stronghold was given the task of controlling the crossing of the River Piave at Colfosco. The castle, which was bombarded even by the Italian front, was fortified in part when it was taken over by the Austro-Hungarian army who recognized that its strategic position made it an excellent observation post. Artillery pieces were in fact stored in caves dug into the eastern part of the complex. The castle today, even after partial renovation, still features evident scars of the battle and can be visited with guided tours (call to book). For information: San Salvatore Castle Tel opening hours am.

37 A MUST-SEE: 21/a - 21/b 22/a -22/b 22/c 21/a Vittorio Veneto Refrontolo 22/a Susegana Palazzo Minucci. Spada temple. Colle della Tombola The Palazzo Minucci building Built in 1800, this small Lookout. is the headquarters of temple was destroyed by Located near the left the Minuccio Minucci shelling in 1918, being bank of the Piave facing Foundation established by unfortunate enough to the Montello, standing express bequest of Knight stand on a rise dominating 250 metres high, it made Commander Giacomo Camillo De Carlo. De Carlo was a the Sernaglia plain. an excellent observation highly decorated aviator post for the imperial royal and World War I hero who artillery. acted as a spy to provide the Italian commands with intelligence. Companion in arms of illustrious Italian writer d Annunzio, he bequeathed his own memorabilia, similar to the writer s Vittoriale memorial collection, as testimony to the ethical and aesthetic tastes of a man and an era. 21/b 22/b Collalto 22/c Ca del Montone house. A farmhouse that was turned into an Austrian headquarters during the war features two plaques, a marble one placed there by the Italians and a bronze one installed by the Czechs, in memory of the execution of a group of legionaries taken prisoner by the Austro- Hungarians. Collalto Goiginger Lookout. Guarda hill was a strategic Austro- Hungarian observation post taken over by the XXIV Army Corps, led by General Ludwig Goiginger, who the site was named after.

38 WORTH A VISIT Note that a second excellent itinerary called The Sacred River is currently being prepared. Below are just a few of its sites worth visiting: British Military Cemetery (Tezze Vazzola) Villa Giol (San Polo di Piave) 7th British Division Memorial (Salettuol Maserada sul Piave) Civic History and Natural History Museum (Maserada sul Piave) Monument to the Boys of 99 (San Bartolomeo di Breda di Piave at Molino della Sega ) Ossuary and War Memorial to the men who lost their lives on the Piave (Fagarè della Battaglia) Tablet dedicated to Ernest Hemingway (Fossalta di Piave) Piazza Vittoria War Memorial (Treviso) Our thanks to all the municipalities the various routes run through for their crucial help: Arcade, Asolo, Borso del Grappa, Breda di Piave, Cavaso del Tomba, Cessalto, Chiarano, Cimadolmo, Cison di Valmarino, Conegliano, Cornuda, Crespano del Grappa, Crocetta del Montello, Follina, Giavera del Montello, Gorgo al Monticano, Mareno di Piave, Maser, Maserada sul Piave, Miane, Monastier, Montebelluna, Moriago della Battaglia, Motta di Livenza, Nervesa della Battaglia, Oderzo, Paderno del Grappa, Pederobba, Ponte di Piave, Possagno, Refrontolo, Revine Lago, Salgareda, San Biagio di Callalta, San Pietro di Feletto, San Polo di Piave, Santa Lucia di Piave, Segusino, Sernaglia della Battaglia, Spresiano, Susegana, Tarzo, Valdobbiadene, Vazzola, Vidor, Vittorio Veneto, Volpago del Montello, Zenson di Piave.

39 INFORMATION AND TOURISM OFFICES PROVINCE OF TREVISO I.A.T. TREVISO Tel Fax iattreviso@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. TREVISO AEROPORTO Via Noalese, 63 Tel. e fax iataeroporto@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. ASOLO Piazza Garibaldi, 73 Tel Fax iatasolo@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. CASTELFRANCO VENETO Via F. M. Preti, 66 Tel Fax iatcastelfrancoveneto@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. CONEGLIANO Via XX Settembre, 61 Tel Fax iatconegliano@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. MONTEBELLUNA Piazza A. Moro, 1 Tel iatmontebelluna@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. ODERZO Calle Opitergium, 5 Tel Fax iatoderzo@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. VALDOBBIADENE Via Piva, 53 Cell Fax iatvaldobbiadene@provincia.treviso.it I.A.T. VITTORIO VENETO Viale della Vittoria, 110 Tel Fax iatvittorioveneto@provincia.treviso.it For information: For tourist reservations CONSORZIO DI PROMOZIONE TURISTICA Tel Fax info@marcatreviso.it web site: Tourism Office Ideation Tourism Office Head of Administration Uberto Di Remigio Supervision Elena Bisiol, Francesca Susanna Project Planning Giovanni Callegari, Filippo Castagnoli, Amerigo Manesso, Roberto Tessari Texts and Optimisation Consuelo Ceolin, Federico Nardelotto Maps Sistema Informativo Territoriale Integrato Provincia di Treviso Distribution Unità Organizzazione Turistica Road signs Unità Programmazione Turistica Pictures Archivio Fotografico Storico Provincia di Treviso (Fondi: Mazzotti, Pillon, Mantese, Azzalini) Gianluca Eulisse, Archivio ISTRESCO Museo della Battaglia di Vittorio Veneto Comune di Cornuda - da Meregalli, Grande Guerra sul Montello, da Cison di Valmarino e il suo Passo, 2004 (Comune di Cison di Valmarino) Translations Equa Trading Scrl, SMILENET di Silvia Baldi Layout Eurekip.com Printed by Grafiche Gifiex - Roncade (TV) Thanks to all the Councils involved.

40 STL N3 Marca Trevigiana local Tourist System 08/09