A red thread runs through the Vicentine Prealps: it is the memory of the First World War, etched into the landscapes, the trails, and the memorials that safeguard its legacy. Along this thread was born AVGG – Alta Via della Grande Guerra(High Route of the Great War), a project promoted by the Province of Vicenza, supported by BIM Bacchiglione, and developed by ALDA+. Its aim is clear: to turn history into a driver for local development by connecting the Four Memorial Sites of the Great War across Vicenza through a scenic hiking route that speaks of memory, nature, and renewal.

But AVGG is more than just a path or a tribute to the past — it is also a vision for the future. To strengthen its economic and touristic potential, in 2024 ALDA+ seized the opportunity of a regional funding call (Regione Veneto, Action 1.3.9: Creation, development, and consolidation of product clubs in the form of business networks to support competitive repositioning) to build a local business network. The goal: to bring together accommodation providers, restaurateurs, tour guides, and local producers who live and work along the route.

It all began with field research, followed by public meetings held in the municipalities crossed by the AVGG trail. These events — organised in collaboration with the Alto Astico and Posina Mountain Union, Pasubio Piccole Dolomiti Mountain Union, and the Spettabile Reggenza dei Sette Comuni — became vibrant moments of dialogue. Participants explored the concrete opportunities the project offered to small and medium enterprises, and how networking could become a real competitive advantage.

Twelve local businesses took the leap and joined the journey. Together, they co-designed a Service Charter, a shared Financial Plan, and a Product Club Regulation — three key documents required for applying to the regional funding.

The pivotal moment came on 11 April 2024, when the companies signed a network agreement before a notary — a symbolic and practical step affirming their joint commitment to a new vision for local development.

As the lead partner, ALDA+ officially submitted the project proposal on 17 June 2024. Now, all that remains is to await the outcome.

The hope? To make AVGG a driving force for tourism, economy, and culture in the Vicentine Prealps. A path that is not only physical, but collective — and one that, step by step, looks toward the future.