19th century fortifications in Sector III

Dalla Marzola al Monte Celva

Sector III of the Trento Fortress included the northern part of the Marzola, the Chegul and Mount Celva. A strategic area for access to the city from the Valsugana through the Cimirlo pass, already controlled in the 19th century by the battery of the same name and the recently restored Roncogno battery. The fortifications included the Roncogno and Cimirlo Batteries and the Serra railway barrage.

Sector II

At the outbreak of war, the area was considerably reinforced. The new defensive line descended from Marzola, touching its minor peaks, such as Dos dei Corvi, following the ridge up to Chegul. From there, the entrenched camp reached the Cimirlo pass, guarded by the modern fortifications of Mount Celva that also controlled the southern side of the Civezzano barricade. The Celva was transformed into a large stronghold, with works that can still be visited to a large extent. Climbing to the summit, for example, is the "Sentiero dei 100 scalini" (100 steps path), a long flight of steps built in a cave, and the large trench that runs across the entire lower part of the Celva. Below the summit, tunnels lead to two armoured domes on the summit. Also in this sector, particularly from the Chegul and the Celva, there are stupendous views of Trento, the surrounding mountains and the Valsugana.

The trekking routes of the III sector

All trekking routes

Go to the list of trekking routes among the First World War fortifications..

The fortifications

Roncogno Battery

  • year of construction: 1879-1880
  • typology: battery
  • ownership: public
  • open to the public: openings
  • extraordinary openings during the year
  • state of preservation: restored
  • Disarmed in 1915

Cimirlo Battery

  • year of construction: 1880-1881
  • typology: battery
  • ownership: private
  • open to the public: no
  • state of preservation: traces
  • Demolished in 1915

Railway barrier Serra

  • year of construction: 1896
  • typology: railway barrier
  • ownership: public
  • open to the public: no
  • state of preservation: unrestored