THE OPEN-AIR MUSEUM OF MOUNT ZEBIO
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Mount Zebio, with its strategic position, became a vital stronghold for the Austrian front line between the summer of 1916 and the autumn of 1918, stretching from the Assa Valley to Mount Ortigara. It was therefore a well-constructed defensive system of trenches, tunnels and defensive posts. You can still easily recognize these constructions.
In summer, the Italian forces repeatedly but unsuccessfully attacked the Austrian positions. The battle of Mount Ortigara (10th-25th June, 1917)
did not bring any success either. Two days before the counter-offensive battle (on 8th June, 1917), at 5:30pm an Italian mine under the rock of Lunetta accidentally exploded (causing also the explosion of the mines positioned by the Austrian to frustrate the Italian plan). The casualties were large: 120 Italian soldiers remained killed and 40 officers of the Catania Brigade - who were in that moment observing and studying the Austrian positions from the Lunetta - lost their lives.
Since 1997 the Council of Asiago started the restoration of the Austrian positions on Mount Zebio as part of a project called “Peace Path”; the restored positions include: Crocetta, Mount Zebio in front of the Malga Zebio and the so-called “Mine of Scalambron”.
The work included clearing and restructuring of an old defensive trench system, mine craters, strongholds, monuments and few administrative areas. The Council also installed some information panels.
Not far from the “Stalder Refuge“, the Council reconstructed a trait of an old Italian trench. The reconstruction was made according to the original plans developed by the Italian military engineers of that time.
In that vicinity, the Council also restored the original Italian cemetery - where several members of the Sassari Brigade were buried - and the ruins of the Italian Headquarters.
You can easily access the trench system of the area and explore the trail that links all the former positions of Mount Zebio.
In summer, the Italian forces repeatedly but unsuccessfully attacked the Austrian positions. The battle of Mount Ortigara (10th-25th June, 1917)
did not bring any success either. Two days before the counter-offensive battle (on 8th June, 1917), at 5:30pm an Italian mine under the rock of Lunetta accidentally exploded (causing also the explosion of the mines positioned by the Austrian to frustrate the Italian plan). The casualties were large: 120 Italian soldiers remained killed and 40 officers of the Catania Brigade - who were in that moment observing and studying the Austrian positions from the Lunetta - lost their lives.
Since 1997 the Council of Asiago started the restoration of the Austrian positions on Mount Zebio as part of a project called “Peace Path”; the restored positions include: Crocetta, Mount Zebio in front of the Malga Zebio and the so-called “Mine of Scalambron”.
The work included clearing and restructuring of an old defensive trench system, mine craters, strongholds, monuments and few administrative areas. The Council also installed some information panels.
Not far from the “Stalder Refuge“, the Council reconstructed a trait of an old Italian trench. The reconstruction was made according to the original plans developed by the Italian military engineers of that time.
In that vicinity, the Council also restored the original Italian cemetery - where several members of the Sassari Brigade were buried - and the ruins of the Italian Headquarters.
You can easily access the trench system of the area and explore the trail that links all the former positions of Mount Zebio.
