Monte Piana rises between Misurina and the Val di Landro, on the border between the Cadore and the Val Pusteria, and it carries the memory of one of the bloodiest fronts of the First World War. Between 1915 and 1917 Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops faced each other at close range here, and it's reckoned that around 14,000 men died. Today the plateau is a large open-air museum, looked after by the Fondazione Monte Piana and several associations. Trenches, tunnels, gun positions, memorial crosses and plaques have been restored and opened up along a history trail that runs almost flat and takes two and a half to three hours.
The easiest way up follows the old military road, about five kilometres, that climbs from Misurina at 1,756 metres to the Rifugio Bosi at 2,205 metres. In summer an off-road shuttle covers it in about fifteen minutes, but you can also walk up from the Lago di Antorno or, with more effort, from the Val di Landro. From the plateau you look out over the Tre Cime, the Cadini and the whole Dolomite amphitheatre. So the visit gives you both a heavy piece of history and a view that's hard to match.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Monte Piana?
The easiest way is the five-kilometre military road that climbs from Misurina to the Rifugio Bosi. In summer off-road shuttles cover it in about fifteen minutes. Or you can walk up from the Lago di Antorno or the Val di Landro.
What can you see of the First World War front?
The plateau keeps restored trenches, tunnels, gun positions and walkways, along with memorial crosses and plaques, set along a history trail you walk almost on the flat. It's a true open-air museum.