Monte Piana: open-air museum of the Great War

Monte Piana was one of the most fiercely contested fronts of the Great War: today it is a vast open-air museum with restored trenches, tunnels and military walkways.

The excursion combines historical discovery with exceptional scenery over the Tre Cime and the Cadini, and it is possible to take a jeep shuttle for the first section of the climb.

How to get there — Lago di Misurina (1.754 m)

You start from Lago di Misurina, at 1,754 m, reached by car along the state road climbing from Auronzo di Cadore or from Passo Tre Croci on the Cortina side; there are paid car parks around the lake. From here a former military road of about 5 km climbs to Rifugio Bosi, at 2,205 m, the threshold of the historic trails. Those who want to save their legs and time can take the jeep-shuttle service, which leaves near the Genzianella restaurant and covers the climb in a quarter of an hour; alternatively the road is walked in full, with its 450 m of elevation gain. Misurina is also served by the Cadore scheduled buses.

The trailhead is in the Auronzo e Misurina area. Check the travel guide for lift schedules, parking and access rules.

Stage by stage

When to go & weather

The ideal period runs from June to October, when the trenches, tunnels and walkways are clear of snow and safely passable. Summer offers the most settled days but also the most crowded, especially at weekends and during historical re-enactments; autumn brings clear air and raking light, perfect on the Tre Cime opposite. It is best to climb in the morning, both to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms frequent at altitude and to tour the open-air museum at leisure, as it deserves hours rather than minutes. Early in the season some snowfields can linger in the shaded hollows of the plateau.

Recommended gear

• Trekking boots with good grip: the ground alternates rock, gravel and grass
• A head torch, indispensable for entering the war tunnels
• Layered clothing with a windproof jacket — the wind often blows on the plateau at 2,300 m
• Water and a snack, even though there is a refreshment service at Rifugio Bosi
• Sun cream and a hat, as the plateau is almost entirely open

Useful tips

• Download the map of the historic trails beforehand: it helps you find your way between Piana Nord and Piana Sud
• Do not forget the torch: some tunnels dug during the Great War are long and dark
• If you are with children or want to save the elevation gain, take the jeep-shuttle up to Rifugio Bosi
• Respect the relics and walkways and take nothing away: this is a protected place of remembrance
• Leave time for the viewpoint over the Tre Cime and Cadini, among the most spectacular in the area
• A guided visit changes everything: the events of 1915-1917 come to life in front of the positions

Huts and rest points

• Rifugio Bosi al Monte Piana (2205 m) — Base per la visita al museo all'aperto della Grande Guerra del Monte Piana. Details →