Por – Forte Carriola – The Great War Itineraries

From the quiet alleys of the small hamlet of Por to the secluded majesty of the Forte Carriola fort – a mute witness to history, where time seems to have stood still.
From the small hamlet of Por, history reveals itself step by step. The hike begins as the hamlet ends, heading into a dense forest that once concealed the secrets of the Austro-Hungarian defence. The path, now a peaceful nature trail, was in fact one of the many military routes that traversed the mountains of the Trentino. It was used mainly by women – the ‘portatrici’ – who, day after day, supported the soldiers by carrying all kinds of supplies from the valley floor to the fort and even to the mountain summits. The route climbs steadily and, for a stretch, intersects the ‘Sentiero della Pace’ (Peace Trail), which runs from east to west across the entire Trentino region. As you ascend the slope, fatigue fades in the increasingly fresh air, while views open up over the Valle del Chiese valley. At an altitude of 1,054 m, the imposing Forte Carriola fort comes into view, one of the most modern structures of its time. Built of reinforced concrete, it now stands as a silent sentinel in ruins. As you walk through its remains and former emplacements, you can sense the echo of the Great War – a cautionary tale, set between the Cadria-Nozzolo massif and the southern reaches of the Adamello massif.
Along this same slope stands another fortress, this time dating back to the Middle Ages: Castel Romano, once the residence of the Counts of Lodron. The castle lies just before the hamlet of Por, perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Valle del Chiese valley.