After the breakthrough at Kobarid and the advance of the Austro-Hungarian and German armies towards the Tagliamento River, the Italian Army still managed to repel for some time the advancing enemy from crossing the bridges over the Tagliamento. Two bridges In the Ragogna area, Cornino and Pinzano, were strategically important, and between them on the left bank of the Tagliamento, the hill Ragogna, with 512 metres of height, began to be fortified by the Italians as early as 1909 due to its strategic location. Today, a groomed footpath Itinerario del complesso fortificato del Monte di Ragogna runs along the ridge.
The starting point for the trail is in Tabine from where you head towards San Pietro and further towards Reunia Castle. The trail ascends to the permanent gun positions of Ragogna Bassa from where the Italian Army controlled the crossing of the Tagliamento in the zone of the Pinzano bridge. Guns of 149 mm calibre were emplaced here, while underground, there were the ammunition depot and the shelter. Not far from here, a rainwater reservoir was also installed.
The path ascends along the ridge to the top, and not far away are the permanent gun positions of Ragogna Alta and the Forte del Cavallino fort. A concrete building along the ridge served as a depot for ammunition and weapons. In front of it, 149 mm calibre guns were emplaced to protect the zone of the Cornino bridge. A hundred metres further eastwards are the fortified positions that defended the southeast slope in the direction of San Daniele del Friuli. An elevator connected these positions with the ammunition depot in a cave.
In 1909, the Cavallino fort and the lower fort Ragogna Bassa were both supplied with guns of the same calibre. The entire complex of Ragogna Alta is surrounded by a double line of trenches. After the fortified trenches you reach the Church of St. John the Hermit (San Giovanni Eremita) and two fortified positions, Cret dal Louf and Spice.
in Friulian, Cret dal Louf means a wolf rock. It is located on the northeast edge of the hill Ragogna, from where a view opens over the bridge Cornino and the Tagliamento. In 1916, the Italians arranged an observation post here, with connecting galleries and a machine-gun emplacement.
Spice (Peak) belongs to the second line of defence on the hill Ragogna. The fortified positions with a cave, the entrance to which was later walled up, were made in 1916‒1917. From here, the trail continues to Muris and further towards the starting point of the trail. Before concluding the tour, it is worth stopping in the WW1 museum Museo della Grande Guerra di Ragogna in San Giacomo.
From Ragogna, continue along the SP5 provincial road to San Giacomo, where you turn left to Via Bologna and continue straight along Via Tagliamento until you reach Tabine.
Gruppo Storico Friuli Collinare – Museo della Grande Guerra di Ragogna
Via Roma, 23 località San Giacomo
I‒33030 Ragogna (UD)
+39 0432 954078
info@grandeguerra-ragogna.it
www.grandeguerra-ragogna.it
Udine Infopoint
Piazza I° Maggio, 7
I–33100 Udine
+39 0432 295972
info.udine@promoturismo.fvg.it
www.turismofvg.it
