Redipuglia and Dolina del XV Bersaglieri

Easy | 3 hrs

The rocky landscape of the Kras Region was the setting for the most brutal battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian Army during World War I. The terrain itself contributed to a number of victims, the names of which can be read on the memorial plaques of the Charnel House in Redipuglia/Redipulja or at the nearby Austro-Hungarian cemeteries.
The area of the outdoor museum Dolina del XV Bersaglieri and the hill 118 (Monte Sei Busi) offer a view over the third fortified line which ran all the way from hill Monte San Michele/Debela griža to Monfalcone/Tržič, and played a key role in the defence of the Kras Region, first on the Austro-Hungarian side and later on the Italian.
Between both wars, a monumental charnel house was built on the slopes of hill Monte Sei Busi, where the mortal remains of more than 100,000 fallen soldiers, who were originally buried on the neighbouring hill of St. Elia are now laid to rest. The monument symbolises an army ascending from the sky who, with their captain leading them, walks the Road of Heroes (in Italian: Via degli Eroi).
For a more in-depth view on the war period and this area, it is worth visiting the museum at the foot of hill St. Elia, Casa III Armata (closed until further notice), located in the building of the Third Italian Army.

Photos: (1) Tanja Gorjan, Fundacija poti miru; (2) PromoTurismoFVG; (3) Schirra/Giraldi, PromoTurismoFVG; (4, 5) Paolo da Pozzo, PromoTurismoFVG; (6) Gabriele Menis, PromoTurismoFVG; (7) Simon Kovačič, Fundacija Poti miru