Bellum Aquilarum - Open-air museum

Open-air museum of the First World War

The history of the First World War on the mountain Croda Rossa is the history of astonishing constructions such as storage facilities, posts, trenches and galleries. It is also the history of soldiers who battled against the altitude, cold, masses of snow, avalanches, supply shortages and loneliness.
Many of the relics remaining on the Croda Rossa were destroyed by the weather. The remnants still testify to the soldiers’ courage, their inventiveness and the technical solutions they developed in this particular war.
The association Bellum Aquilarum ONLUS in Sesto aims to ensure that the remaining evidence and relics are not forgotten. In recent years important outposts were restored and a visitor information service was set up.
  • Start: mountain station cable car Croda Rossa
  • Destination: Malga Anderter pasture - open-air museum
  • Altitude difference: approx. 400 m
  • Walking time to the open-air museum: approx. 45 minutes
  • Sign posting: No. 100
  • Passable: End of June to end of September
  • Rest stops: Rifugio Rudi hut, Rifugio Prati di Croda Rossa hut
  • Tour: Visitors can buy an information booklet at Tourist Info Sesto or at the lower cable car station of the Croda Rossa cable car.
    During the summer months (beginning of July to end of September) the association Bellum Aquilarum ONLUS offers guided historic hikes to the open-air-museum several times a week. The guided tours in Italian and German only take place when the weather is good or at least acceptable. You can find the list of dates at www.bellumaquilarum.it.

There is a Bellum Aquilarum exhibition in the village. Why not visit that too!

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Bellum Aquilarum exhibition
Not forgotten. The First World War in the Sesto Dolomites 1915-1918.
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During the First World War Sesto and the Sesto Dolomites saw a great deal of military conflict. At altitudes of over 2900 metres Austrians and Italians tried to defend their posts under the most atrocious conditions, to expand them and to gain new ground. The war not only left its marks in the rocky caves but the villagers also suffered.

The exhibition tells of:
  • The importance of the Malga Anderter pasture (base camp for the Austrian-Hungarian soldiers), the high outposts and field camps on the mountains Croda Rossa and Cima Undici
  • The logistical challenges
  • The construction work in high alpine territory (e.g. the construction of barracks, cable car stations)
  • The harsh winter months in a territory with high snowfalls and avalanches
  • The daily life of soldiers at the mountain front
  • The battles that took place around the Passo Sentinella saddle, Croda Rossa and Cima Undici and
  • The life of the civilian population in Sesto.

Opening hours:
16.12.2023 - 06.04.2024
TUE, THU, SAT: 4 pm - 6 pm
closed on 26.12 and 06.01

Free entry!

Address:
Exhibition- Bellum Aquilarum
Via della Chiesa 9
39030 Sesto