Mt. of Buja stands between the peaks of Mt. Faeit and Mt. Campeon and the Tagliamento River, and is, at 324m ASL, one of the most elevated heights in this area. Due to this characteristic and its strategic position, the Italians reputed it the ideal location for the installation of a permanent artillery battery pointed towards the Pre-Alps valleys. Like other similar installations of the time, Buia too was provided with four 149 mm cast-iron guns.
Today, you can still see several remains of the Great War, although a number of them was reconverted to civil purposes in the decades following the conflict. You can easily drive up to the top and then take a mule track on the right leading to three caves that served as ammo deposit, as seen from the words that can still be read on stone: "shell deposit", "bullet deposit" and "ammo reserve". The entrance is secured with an armoured door because now these caves are used by Enel for electricity supply.
On the top of the hill, to north east, you can still see the emplacement where the permanent battery was placed as well as the walls protecting guns from enemy fire. On the same walls, some recesses were used as ready-to-use ammo reserves. From here, you can see the first Alps and the Fort of Osoppo, quite close in a beeline. USEFUL INFORMATION
How to get there: From Highway A23, take the exit Gemona/Osoppo and continue to the left towards Buia/San Daniele del Friuli on provincial road Lavio. At the intersection, take provincial road SP49 and turn left towards Buja, then continue for 800 metres until you see Via del Mulini on the left. Take it and follow directions for San Floreano; once you reach the village centre, make a left to Salita di Monte, then continue to the top.
Difficulty level: tourist
Duration: around 1 hour
Equipment: trekking shoes (dirt road), long trousers
