As part of the PR Veneto ESF+ 2021–2027 project “Skills for More Accessible, Sustainable and Digital Tourism” (Regional Council Decision No. 442 of 22 April 2025), led by Umana Forma with ALDA+ as an associate partner, a new series of excursions continues to showcase the unique heritage of the Alta Via della Grande Guerra (AVGG) in the Vicentine Pre-Alps.
The initiative aims to strengthen sustainable tourism by enhancing the knowledge and appreciation of one of the region’s most significant historical and natural landscapes. Through guided experiences, participants are invited to discover places of remembrance while promoting responsible tourism, cultural awareness, and stronger connections between local communities and visitors.
The Alta Via della Grande Guerra was created through the collaboration between the Province of Vicenza and the Mountain Community of the Seven Municipalities with the objective of preserving and promoting the area’s remarkable First World War heritage. The 200-kilometre route connects the four symbolic memorial sites of Pasubio, Cimone, Asiago, and Grappa, while passing through numerous trenches, forts, military roads, and fortifications that tell the story of one of Europe’s most dramatic conflicts.
Today, the route represents much more than a historical itinerary. It combines cultural heritage, breathtaking natural landscapes, and local gastronomic traditions, while encouraging reflection on the consequences of war and the importance of peace for future generations.
Within the ESF+ project, the excursions are designed both for tourism professionals and for the wider public. By offering direct experiences in the territory, the initiative seeks to increase awareness of the Alta Via della Grande Guerra, strengthen the skills of tourism operators, and create a network of local ambassadors capable of promoting the route and its values.
The programme includes two complementary activities:
- Outdoor training sessions, dedicated to tourism operators and members of the local network;
- Guided workshops and excursions, open to the general public.
The outdoor training programme concluded on 19 May with an excursion to Monte Grappa, one of the most symbolic places of remembrance in the region. Accompanied by an expert environmental guide, participants explored both the historical significance and the exceptional natural heritage of the area, gaining valuable insights into how cultural and environmental tourism can complement one another.
The programme now continues with two final excursions open to the public, scheduled for 18 and 25 July.
Walking through history on Monte Fior and Monte Castelgomberto
On 18 July, participants will explore the landscapes of the Asiago Plateau, following a route across Monte Fior and Monte Castelgomberto.
Known as the “Key to Italy” because of their strategic importance during the First World War, these mountains still preserve trenches and military positions once occupied by the renowned Sassari Brigade. The excursion offers an opportunity to experience both history and nature, crossing peaceful alpine pastures where the silence is broken only by the calls of marmots and the mountain wind.
As the path climbs higher, the landscape gradually changes, revealing the spectacular limestone formations of the “City of Rock”—a unique karst landscape shaped during the Ice Age that adds remarkable geological value to the experience.
Monte Grappa: landscapes of memory
The final excursion, on 25 July, will lead participants through the Monte Grappa area, following the grassy ridges of Monte Asolone and Col della Beretta.
These locations played a decisive role during the Battle of Arresto in 1917 and became a crucial defensive line protecting both the Cadorna Road and the Venetian plain. Today, visitors can walk along panoramic trails offering breathtaking views that extend from the Dolomites to the Venetian Lagoon, while discovering a landscape still marked by bomb craters and other traces of the conflict.
The approximately 8-kilometre route, with an elevation gain of around 350 metres, combines historical interpretation with the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding natural environment, offering participants a unique opportunity to reflect on the relationship between memory, landscape, and peace.
Those interested in participating or receiving further information can contact luisa@aldaintranet.org.