The Municipality of Pontebba, in the heart of the Julian Alps, is one of the most important villages in this mountain area. It boasts quite a peculiar history: the Rio Pontebbana River crossing the village used to coincide with the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the Great War. So, the village was split in two: Pontebba (under the rule of the House of Savoy) and Pontafel (under Habsburg rule), which were annexed only after the signing of the peace treaties and when the border was moved north of Tarvisio. If you look carefully though, you can still see some traces of this event. For instance, Pontebba has two cemeteries, located on each side of the Rio Pontebbana River.
On the left bank, St. Anthony's graveyard includes the tombs of Austro-Hungarian soldiers who fell in battle around here, especially during the summer of 1915. 21 concrete plaques with inscriptions on metal plates are arranged on the ground and aligned along the eastern perimeter wall of the cemetery. Some of them are dedicated to unknown soldiers. INFORMATION
Via Sant'Antonio
I-33016 Pontebba
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Municipality of Pontebba
Piazza Garibaldi, 1
I-33016 Pontebba (UD)
Tel. +39 0428 90161
