The Military Shrine of Schio, built in 1930 according to a design by architect Pietro del Fabbro, in the shape of a cloister, surrounds the ancient Church of the Holy Trinity on three sides and connects to it, on the outer side, with an artistic wrought iron gate, supported by slender columns and pillars. The cloister, with its typical 15th-century structure, has an extent of 70 m per side with two square-shaped propylaea at both ends, towards the gate of the entrance facade. At the center of the main arm opens the Chapel of the decorated for Military Valor and the bronze bust of General Pecori Giraldi, Commander of the 1st Army. The columns are made of red Asiago marble in various shades; the main parts of the cloister are frescoed with allegorical figures. The Shrine houses the remains of over 5000 fallen soldiers, known and unknown, from the 1915-18 war, coming from the war cemeteries of Schio, Arzignano, Chiampo, Fusine, Malo, Montecchio Maggiore, Novale, Poleo, Posina, Rocchette, Sandrigo, Valdagno, and Vicenza. Additionally, it also contains fallen soldiers, many of whom were partisans of World War II and the Resistance. The unknown soldiers are collected in the side lunette of the main arm, and on each marble slab are engraved significant epigraphs. In the beautiful Church of the Holy Trinity, attached to the Shrine, the citizens of Schio who fell for the Fatherland are particularly remembered, with inscriptions and frescoes. The Shrine is owned by the State and is under the jurisdiction of the General Commissioner for Honors to the Fallen in War.
Photo: archive of the Municipality of Schio.
