News
Historical Passo S. Pellegrino
The first Italian settlements were founded on the extensive meadows of the San Pellegrino Pass, which was then part of Austria.
At the time, the Austrians were already settled not far from the San Pellegrino Pass and above the Selle Pass, and founded a small village. Hence, an advance into the Val di Fassa Valley was impossible.
The most dangerous attack from the Italian side took place on the 18th of June 1915. They succeeded in conquering the Allochet Peak, which borders the Selle Pass to the south-east. Due to this victory, the Italian "Bersaglieri" decided to fly the Italian flag on the peak. Thanks to this rather imprudent action, the Austrians found a great target for their machine guns, which were positioned on the opposite mountain (Punta d'Ort). Hence, this very important success was in vain. Following, the conflict between the Italians and the Austrians moved on to the Costabella mountain ridge. The borders were moved several times, not without the spilling of a lot of blood of course. Mountains, that had been Italian at one moment, were in the hands of the Austrians after only a few days or even hours.
An important battle took place in March 1917, when the Costabella Peak had been captured. Tons of lead and artillery shells reached the Italian soldiers positioned at the peak. ".... During these days, also the most resistant soldiers started to hate the war ..."
Hence, the alpinists decided to win the battle for the possession of the mountain by organising a mine explosion underneath the peak, where the Austrians were positioned. The underground digging for the preparation of the explosion started in August 1917, but was soon interrupted due to the rock being fragile. At the end of October of that year, the Austrians broke through the frontier at the side of Isontino. Hence, it became unfeasible for the Italians to try and conquer a bit of Austrian ground in this scenario of war in the Dolomites, because all soldiers moved back to Isonzo - and peace returned between these two mountains.
The most dangerous attack from the Italian side took place on the 18th of June 1915. They succeeded in conquering the Allochet Peak, which borders the Selle Pass to the south-east. Due to this victory, the Italian "Bersaglieri" decided to fly the Italian flag on the peak. Thanks to this rather imprudent action, the Austrians found a great target for their machine guns, which were positioned on the opposite mountain (Punta d'Ort). Hence, this very important success was in vain. Following, the conflict between the Italians and the Austrians moved on to the Costabella mountain ridge. The borders were moved several times, not without the spilling of a lot of blood of course. Mountains, that had been Italian at one moment, were in the hands of the Austrians after only a few days or even hours.
An important battle took place in March 1917, when the Costabella Peak had been captured. Tons of lead and artillery shells reached the Italian soldiers positioned at the peak. ".... During these days, also the most resistant soldiers started to hate the war ..."
Hence, the alpinists decided to win the battle for the possession of the mountain by organising a mine explosion underneath the peak, where the Austrians were positioned. The underground digging for the preparation of the explosion started in August 1917, but was soon interrupted due to the rock being fragile. At the end of October of that year, the Austrians broke through the frontier at the side of Isontino. Hence, it became unfeasible for the Italians to try and conquer a bit of Austrian ground in this scenario of war in the Dolomites, because all soldiers moved back to Isonzo - and peace returned between these two mountains.