‘The Battle of Melino’ Itinerary – The Great War Itineraries

This route offers not only a demanding hiking experience, but also rewards hikers with spectacular panoramic views and significant historical interest linked to the presence of Italian Army military posts.

More than a century has passed since combat took place on the Monte Melino mountain: on one side, the defence of a thousand-year-old border; on the other side, the attempt to break through the defence lines. The Italian Army led the attack, while the Austro-Hungarian troops fought in defence. The itinerary runs along the southern slopes of the Monte Melino mountain and leads to the Italian positions near the summit. The route presents no technical difficulties, but does require significant physical effort, especially when tackled uphill. Covering a distance of just over 7 kilometres, the ascent exceeds 600 metres of elevation gain, with an average gradient of around 21%. The hike follows an easy, well-marked path that offers stunning panorama points with views extending as far as the Lago d’Idro lake. The trail then joins an old Italian military road traced along the southern flank of the Monte Melino mountain, eventually reaching the stone barracks of the Italian posts.