Outdoor Museum San Michele/Debela griža

Easy | 1–3 hrs

The Monte San Michele/Debela griža outdoor museum provides an interesting combination of history and natural features. Along the path that runs through the outdoor museum visitors can see structures and monuments that were built among the four summits of this karstic elevation during World War I. In 2014, a large gun cave was also cleaned and arranged for visitors. The fact, that there were as many as thirteen military cemeteries on Monte San Michele, bears evidence of the fierce combats that took place in this area. An observation platform is the point of departure for the path which runs to the nearby cave of General Lukačič. Not far away are two entrances to the gun tunnel of the Third Army, a spacious underground structure that was used by the Italian Army. On Summit 3 we can see a part of the gun loophole, at Summit 2 the entrance opens to the tunnel Schönburgtunnel. In 1922, at the time of fascism, Monte San Michele was declared a so-called Sacred Zone (Zona sacra). Exactly at that time the idea emerged that a path of memorials, Percorso dei cippi, should be arranged. It starts right on Monte San Michele. The path runs along the ridge to the cemetery at San Martino del Carso/Martinščina and the Italian trench which was a target of chemical weapons (gas attack) on 29 June 1916. The best way to take a good look of the outdoor museum on Monte San Michele is to go along the entire footpath. Following the signposts, a visitor can see all the most important Italian and Austro-Hungarian remains in this area. The path runs past more than fifty memorials dedicated to various military detachments of the Italian and the Austro-Hungarian armies that fought on this strategically important elevation all until the Sixth Isonzo Battle in 1916. The first line of defence later moved eastwards, which also meant that the fiercest fights moved away from this area.
Within the scope of the outdoor museum there is also a Multimedia Museum of Mount San Michele. The museum was completely renovated in 2018. Through its interactive multimedia content and tools it offers a unique experience that not only gives information but also arouses emotions in the visitor.

Boštjan Burger 360° Surround Photography

Photos: (1) Schirra/Giraldi, PromoTurismoFVG; (2) PromoTurismoFVG; (3, 4) Archive of ERPAC – Musei Provinciali di Gorizia

Guided Tour Programme:

Gorizia and Carso isontino – The Scene of the Great Isonzo Battles