This masterpiece of military engineering was built starting from February 6, 1917, during World War I, and was completed in November of the same year. A remarkably short time considering the length of the route, 6555 meters, and the endless difficulties that the miners of the Corps of Engineers had to overcome to excavate the rock in correspondence with the 52 tunnels.
In fact, there are 2335 meters of road that develop in tunnels, about 35% of the total. The starting point is at Bocchetta Campiglia (1216 meters) in the municipality of Valli del Pasubio, reaching Porte del Pasubio (1928 meters), where the Papa refuge is located.
An authentic miracle of daring by the Italian miners, who completed the work despite all the hardships posed by working at high altitudes and the ongoing war.
The Road was created to solve a major problem that the Italian Army encountered during the war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, namely the need to supply the front lines on the peaks of Pasubio without being targeted by the opponents.
The works were commanded by the 33rd company of Miners, belonging to the 5th Regiment, with the help of six centuries of workers. The operations were directed by Lieutenant Giuseppe Zappa, followed later by Commander Corrado Picone.
Each of the tunnels has a number and is dedicated to a soldier or to a unit of the Army. The longest is the 19th, the Vittorio Emanuele III, which even reaches 320 meters, developed vertically through a spectacular spiral of four bends.
Overall, it is a true masterpiece of engineering, which after a hundred years still attracts tens of thousands of tourists, who come from all over Italy and even abroad to walk the legendary Road.
How to get there:
Heading towards Passo Pian delle Fugazze, upon reaching Ponte Verde, turn right. Continue towards Passo Xomo and ascend to Bocchetta Campiglia. Park the car and begin the ascent through the monumental entrance.
For more information and to download the map/gpx track click here.
