This masonry structure is built on the Montello ridge, just below the Benedetti manor house, near the “Roman” column built in 1933 in memory of the Great War. The bunker, composed of two simple rooms linked by a small corridor, was probably constructed in 1917 and used as a military observatory, from where King Vittorio Emanuele III followed the battle of Quartiere del Piave, as is indicated by the stone placed at the top of the stairs: “From here, Vittorio Emanuele III, in the glorious autumn of victory, under enemy fire, observed the arduous passage of the soldiers across the river, thrice vital to Italy’s fortunes, observed the beginning of the battle that brought Trento and Trieste within the bosom of Italy. 27-28-29 October 1918 command post and observatory of XXII C.A.” The observatory is well conserved, and each opening offers a different, invariably beautiful view of the Piave and the Treviso Pre-Alps.
The road that runs along the north-eastern side of the Montello can be reached by coming off the SR348 towards Crocetta del Montello and taking Via S. Anna along one of the branches of the Brentella Canal that crosses the town from north to south. South of Crocetta, turn left into Via Lodovico Boschieri, which near Borgo Santa Margherita goes onto the road that runs around the Montello woods. From Santa Mama, go up Via Vaccari on the right, then follow the tourist signs to the observatory. From the south side, go up Via Vaccari to Presa XVI. From the rest area at the top, continue for about 200 m on foot.
ACCESSIBLE: yes
MUNICIPALITY: Crocetta del Montello
PLACE: Montello
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: X 1739932 – Y 5078046
PROVINCE: TV
FILE COMPILED BY: Visentin/Rossi
On the banks of the Piave, at the end of nearby Santa Mama, is a small votive capital, known as “dei Lovi” or “del lou” (189 NS/HAA). The construction of the capital, and the legend connected to it featuring wolves - hence the name – are believed to date back to the 14th century, although actual documentary evidence is thin on the ground. Here, where the Piave is over 500 metres wide, we know there was once a boat crossing, which probably remained operative from at least the 18th century. It is believed it may have been built for travellers to pray before crossing the river, or to give thanks for a safe crossing; an alternative explanation is that the capital may have been built in remembrance of a miracle that occurred when someone was being chased by a pack of wolves, and in fact on the frescoes on the inside walls, the paws of wolves can be seen. About 600 away as the crow flies, also offering exceptional views over the Piave, is the Buoro Spring (190 NS/ES): at Buoro di Ciano, a spring of water sprouts from one of the ninety or so natural grottos of the Montello, which legend has it were once frequented by nymphs and fairies.
There are virtually no surface watercourses on the Montello, although there is an extensive network of underground waters that run down into the aquifers. One of the few surface watercourses here is the Giavera torrent, which begins at Forame a Giavera (168 HAA).
A. Paolillo, D. Zanetti, Il Montello, Belluno, 2004
