STELLA D'ITALIA

National Identification Code IT022087B8RPZ7UO2U The Rifugio Stella d'Italia was built before the Great War to serve as a base during construction of Forte Sommo Alto, one of seven fortresses built on the Cimbrian plateaux by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Then came the era of skiing and the refuge is now on the pistes of the “Ski Tour dei Forti”, by the top station of the Francolini chairlift. In summer it’s easy to get to, on foot or mountain bike, to relax on the plateau’s green slopes or go in search of vestiges of the Great War. Opening times:  From 20 June to 22 September From December to April Before leaving for your hike, always contact the manager to verify the actual opening of the mountain hut Walking tours: Take the signposted “Sentiero della Pace” (Peace Path) and in a few minutes you’ll be at the ruins of the Austrian fortress, Sommo Alto. An hour's walk (with negligible height gain) will bring you to Passo Coe where you can set out for Monte Maggio (1 hour, difficulty E), which still has a network of trenches. Not far from the pass is the Malga Zonta memorial (dedicated to the martyrs of the Resistance) and the “ Base Tuono” museum, housed in a former NATO military base, which documents the years of the Cold War.