Carnia extends on the northern part of Friuli Venezia Giulia near the border with Austria, a unique and fascinating land boasting pristine nature and ancient traditions and culture.
Its geographical features made it a natural passage north to south, and vice-versa, since Roman times. The Mauria Pass, where the Tagliamento River originates, is a natural cross point to the Dolomites surrounding Belluno from the Friulian plain, while Monte Croce Carnico Pass is still one of the major passageways between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Carinthia.
This pass was at the heart of the Great War in Carnia over a century ago. Both the Italian and the Austrian Supreme Commands regarded it as one of the key passages along the whole front: a breakthrough would have certainly led to an advance into enemy territory.
Throughout the summer of 1915, therefore, the surrounding peaks were fiercely contended, occupied and heavily fortified by both sides. Just like on the Julian Alps, here too we can admire the remains of such battles, which were secondary if compared to those fought along the Isonzo River but equally fascinating from a human standpoint.
The open-air museums of Mt. Freikofel (or Mt. Cuelàt) and Mt. Pal Piccolo include a number of routes immersed in pristine nature that can be walked to discover the remains of barracks, blockhouses and massive high-altitude entrenchments. Here, you can have an idea of the conditions and life of soldiers during battles and resting time alike.
Downstream instead, in the small hamlet of Timau (Municipality of Paluzza), you can visit an interesting museum, an ossuary and discover the fascinating story of Maria Plozner Mentil and the other Carnic porters, silent protagonists of the Great War.
