Walking through History: the secrets of Monte Cengio and Forte Corbin

There are places where the mountain stops being just nature and becomes an open-air book. On the Asiago Plateau there is a special trail where every step treads on memory: the loop linking Monte Cengio and the Fort of Punta Corbin. Today we'll show you why this isn't just another hike, but an incredible journey through trenches and tunnels carved into the rock.

💥 Monte Cengio and the Grenadiers

Monte Cengio is a "Sacred Zone of the Homeland" because one of the most dramatic chapters of the Great War unfolded here. In May 1916, the Austro-Hungarian army launched a devastating offensive that went down in history as the Strafexpedition (a very famous name that hides a secret). The young men of the Sardinia Grenadiers Brigade defended these rocks to the ultimate sacrifice, to stop the enemy before it could descend into the plain. Walking the "Granatiera" today, high above the sheer drop to the Val d'Astico, sends shivers down your spine. Not because of the height, but because of the history you can feel in the air.

🏰 Forte Corbin: the stone giant

A little further on, clinging to a rocky spur, stands Forte Corbin, the largest fortress on the Plateau. Built to defend the Italian border, as fate would have it, it never got the chance to make a difference in the fighting before it was occupied by the Austrians. Today, thanks to an outstanding private restoration, it is beautifully preserved and houses a museum that is absolutely worth a visit.

Want to walk this loop with us? Join us on Sunday 8 November: discover the hike and book your place.