Alta Badia prepares to commemorate the centenary of WWI battles

April 7, 2014 - PRLog -- Alta Badia is preparing to commemorate the soldiers that fought during the First World War on and around the mountains of the region. Events through the summer will recognise perils involved with battles in the Dolomites and the ‘Peaks of Gastronomy’ will honour the soldiers’ diet with a gourmet twist.

100 years on

There will be a number of events through the valleys and on the mountains to commemorate the Great War:

Peaks of Gastronomy

This year the Michelin starred chefs of the area are paying homage to the Great War with their own slant on the cuisine of the time. Utilising the simple ingredients that were on offer between 1915 -1918 the dishes will be served in mess tins. This year’s event will be launches on Friday 27^th June in San Cassiano giving those in the area the opportunity to taste the simple ingredients with their gourmet, Michelin starred, twist, including Geröstel, a type of hash, and a bread soup. The dishes will be available in eight mountain huts: Lèe, I Tablà, Bioch, Piz Arlara, Pralongià, Mesoles, Jimmy and Scotoni.

Excursions to WWI sites

The Alta Badia Tourist Board is running an excursion every Friday (June – September) to the locations that played a key role in the war. Expert guides will lead visitors on a route from Passo Falzarego towards the Vonbank (front line) where trenches have been restored. The Kaiserjäger (http://www.altabadia.org/en/summer_holiday_dolomites/trek...) path then rises to the Piccolo Lagazuoi before descending towards and into the tunnels that were dug into the base of the mountains. Inside there is a restored kitchen and soldier’s dormitory.

The demanding walk takes around 5-6 hours with 650m of uphill walking to contend with. Prices: 20€ for adults and 15€ for children between 7 and 12.

Photographic Exhibition

Unpublished photos by Alex Pedratscher  will be displayed in La Villa from July to the end of September. The images have been collated by history buff and local author Oswald Mederle who will also present on the war in the Ladin valleys and lead excursions to historical sites.

Background to WWI in Alta Badia

Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on the 23^rd May 1915, nearly ten months after the initial declarations of war by Austria-Hungary and Serbia which condemned Europe to war. The majority of Austria-Hungary’s troops were occupied on the Serbian and Russian fronts. This lead to Italy’s first forays into the war being met by a number of battalions of infantry with limited artillery at their disposal. Included within these were men of the gendarmerie, the Finance Guard and Standschützen Mareo – made up of young and old.

Over time these men were backed up by the German Alpenkorps along with the local Ladin people who had pre-empted war by constructing defences. Although low in numbers these men were able to take up strategic positions due to their mountain knowledge repelling Italian attacks on the Castelletto, Falzarego, Lagazuoi and Col di Lana peaks. The war raged through the area leading to infrastructure being built such as hospitals, cemeteries and POW camps. On the mountains the war lead to changes too with tunnelling becoming an effective tool for soldiers utilising mines, particularly on the Lagazuoi. At the conclusion of the war the Trentino Alto Adige (including Alta Badia) was annexed to Italy following their victory in the wider war.

For more information on Alta Badia and events in the region visit www.altabadia.org

-Ends-

Thursday, 20 March 2014

Notes to Editors: Alta Badia is recognized as one of the most scenic areas in the world by UNESCO.

www.altabadia.org

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