Fogliano Redipúglia: Memorials and Trails on Monte Sei Busi

Fogliano Redipúglia is a destination for anyone who wants to learn about history not only through exhibitions, but also through landscapes, memorials and preserved traces in the terrain. Around Monte Sei Busi, monumental memorial sites, museums and marked trails come together to create a journey offering many different impressions. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore consider whether you would mainly like to include central cultural sites, historic landscapes or a mix of both in your plans.

Monuments and Museums on the History of the First World War

The Sacrario di Redipuglia is located on the western slope of Monte Sei Busi. Its monumental staircase consists of 22 steps and contains the remains of more than 39,800 named fallen soldiers. Behind the 22nd step are two symmetrically arranged museum rooms. One is dedicated to the gold medals and works of the painter Giuseppe Ciotti, while the other presents personal belongings and small mementoes of the fallen. Architecture, names, art and personal testimonies shape the character of this memorial site.

The Parco delle Rimembranze on Colle Sant’Elia is also part of the historic character of the area. It contains memorials, Austro-Hungarian fortifications, trenches and tunnels, as well as 30 artillery pieces, many of which are considered rare. The Sacrario Militare and the Parco delle Rimembranze on Colle Sant’Elia are open permanently. Another important memorial site is the Cimitero austro-ungarico di Fogliano Redipuglia, located one kilometre from the Sacrario di Redipuglia and containing the remains of 14,550 soldiers who fell in this area. Hungarian, Bosnian, Slavic and Romanian family names point to the multi-ethnic dimension of the Habsburg Empire.

The Museo Multimediale della Grande Guerra has been housed in the former railway station of Fogliano Redipúglia since 2014. At three touchscreen stations, it provides independent access to a collection of more than 1,200 photographs. The local religious buildings also add to the historical and cultural perspective: the Chiesa di Santa Elisabetta features interior furnishings and decorations by the local painters Corrado Zimolo, Carlo Mauri and Giulio Justolin, as well as a wooden statue of the Madonna from the 14th century. The Chiesetta di Santa Maria in Monte was built in the centre of a Venetian military installation. Its garden is still surrounded by a star-shaped wall, partly preserved in its original form, which the commander Antonio Priuli had built during the Guerre Gradiscane between Venice and the Empire.

Historic Landscape on Monte Sei Busi

Anyone wishing to trace the history of the First World War in the terrain can visit the Museo all’aperto della Dolina del XV Bersaglieri. It lies on the battlefields of the Karst plateau of Monte Sei Busi between Fogliano Redipúglia and Ronchi dei Legionari. Marked trails lead to trenches, tunnels and military positions. The open-air museum can be reached by car after travelling approximately two and a half kilometres along the road from Redipuglia to Doberdò del Lago; a footpath then leads to Monte Sei Busi at an elevation of 118 metres above sea level.

From Monte Sei Busi, the view extends across the entire former Isonzo Front, from Monte Krn, also known as Nero, to the Gulf of Trieste, which is bordered by Monte Hermada. A section of the so-called Trincerone italiano, also known as Trincea Mazzoldi, can also be seen nearby. The Trincea delle Frasche was one of the early and seemingly impregnable Austro-Hungarian defence systems dug into the hard rock of the Karst. Some of its original sections have been partially filled in and are now only faintly visible among the surrounding woodland vegetation. Nearby, easy marked trails lead to the memorial stone for Filippo Corridoni and the pyramid commemorating the infantrymen of the Brigata Sassari.

Getting There and Planning the Right Trip

To reach the Sacrario di Redipuglia, you can take the Venice–Trieste motorway by car, exit at Redipuglia and then continue for two kilometres in the direction of Fogliano Redipúglia. By train, the town can be reached via Redipuglia station on the Udine–Gorizia–Trieste line. Ronchi dei Legionari Airport is five kilometres away, while the port of Trieste is approximately 45 kilometres away.

For families with different interests, the stay can be varied: one day can combine the monumental Sacrario complex, museum rooms and religious art, while another can focus on the marked trails, tunnels and fortifications on Monte Sei Busi. The Sentieri di Pace project organises excursions throughout the year with guides who specialise in the history of the First World War. This allows you to decide whether to explore the historic sites independently or include a guided, more in-depth experience. You can discover additional destinations via Savogna D'isonzo, Grado, San Floriano del Collio, Dolegna Del Collio, Monfalcone, Ronchi Dei Legionari, Romans d'Isonzo and Capriva Del Friuli .

For the overview of the wider region: Gorizia.