On July 14, the second event of the series “The Memory of the Roots” took place, organized by the Municipality of Sagrado, winner of the Call for the realization of cultural activities in favor of Italian-descendants in the world, as part of the “2024 – Year of Italian Roots” project.

The event, entitled “Guided Tour at Dusk: Monte San Michele Open Air Museum”, offered participants a unique experience to discover Monte San Michele, located in the northern part of the Isonzo Karst, near Gorizia.
This itinerary allowed you to explore a place of great historical and natural importance, crossing paths accessible to all, which lead to structures and monuments dating back to the First World War.

Monte San Michele, celebrated in the poems of Giuseppe Ungaretti who fought there for months, was the scene of bitter battles during the first year of the war on the Isonzo front.
Its four peaks, defended by Hungarian troops, played a crucial role in the defense of the front and Gorizia.
The Italian assaults caused heavy losses, especially during the Second and Third Battle of the Isonzo.
The summit was conquered only in August 1916, during the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo.

The excursion started from the area of the battles, which can be reached from Sagrado by following the signs for the top of the mountain and continuing to the Frasche Trench, the Sassari Brigade Memorial Stone and the monumental Filippo Corridoni Memorial Stone.
After a short break, the participants reached San Martino del Carso, a hamlet of Sagrado immersed in the tranquility of nature, but which in 1915 was located in the center of the front.
Here, they were able to read Ungaretti’s famous poem in Piazza della Fontana and visit the small museum run by the local Speleological Group.

The route continued towards the cemetery, crossing Via Vallone and Via Bosco Cappuccio, up to the memorial stone of the 4th Honved.
Following the CAI 73 Path, the participants began the climb towards the open-air museum of Monte San Michele, crossing the Path of the memorial stones around the four peaks.
A detour to Cima 2 allowed them to visit the Schönburgtunnel, while returning to Cima 3, they were able to admire the Gunboat Gallery of the Third Army, an imposing underground structure.

The excursion ended at the main square, where the participants enjoyed a splendid view towards the Collio and Gorizia and visited the Virtual Museum of the Great War, an experience that blends the history of our roots and virtual technology.

The Memory of the Roots will continue with other similar events, offering an exciting and reflective journey through the historical places of Friuli Venezia Giulia, combining history, poetry and sensoriality.